Synthesis and Characterization of Patronite Form of Vanadium Sulfide on Graphitic Layer

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 135; no. 23; pp. 8720 - 8725
• Main Authors: Rout, Chandra Sekhar, Kim, Byeong-Hwan, Xu, Xiaodong, Yang, Jieun, Jeong, Hu Young, Odkhuu, Dorj, Park, Noejung, Cho, Jaephil, Shin, Hyeon Suk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 12.06.2013
• Subjects: energy conversion; graphene; graphene oxide; Graphite - chemical synthesis; Graphite - chemistry; Models, Molecular; Oxides - chemical synthesis; Oxides - chemistry; Particle Size; sulfide minerals; sulfides; Sulfides - chemical synthesis; Sulfides - chemistry; Surface Properties; vanadium; Vanadium Compounds - chemical synthesis; Vanadium Compounds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja403232d

With the exploding interest in transition metal chalcogenides, sulfide minerals containing the dianion S2 2–, such as pyrite (FeS2), cattierite (CoS2), and vaesite (NiS2), have recently attracted much attention for potential applications in energy conversion and storage devices. However, the synthesis of the patronite structure (VS4, V4+(S2 2–)2) and its applications have not yet been clearly demonstrated because of experimental difficulties and the existence of nonstoichiometric phases. Herein, we report the synthesis of VS4 using a simple, facile hydrothermal method with a graphene oxide (GO) template and the characterization of the resulting material. Tests of various templates such as CNT, pyrene, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), and graphite led us to the conclusion that the graphitic layer plays a role in the nucleation during growth of VS4. Furthermore, the VS4/rGO hybrid was proved to be a promising functional material in energy storage devices.