Search

[Display omitted] • Flexible free-standing hierarchical SnS 2 @NC hybrid electrode was fabricated. • The hollow structure alleviates volume expansion and facilitates ion diffusion. • A high electrosorption capacity and a rapid salt adsorption rate were achieved. • Work function-driven interfacial electron transfer accelerates reaction kinetics. Constructing pseudocapacitive electrodes with high specific capacities is indispensable for increasing the large-scale application of capacitive deionization (CDI). However, the insufficient CDI rate and cycling performance of pseudocapacitive-based electrodes have led to a decline in their use due to the corresponding volumetric expansion and contraction that occurs during long-term CDI processes. Herein, hierarchical porous SnS 2 nanoflakes are encapsulated inside an N -doped carbon (NC) matrix to achieve efficient CDI. Benefiting from the synergistic properties of the pseudocapacitive SnS 2 nanoflakes and few-layered N -doped carbon, the heterogeneous interface simultaneously provides more available vigorous sites and demonstrates rapid charge-transfer kinetics, resulting in a superior desalination capability (49.86 mg g−1 at 1.2 V), rapid desalination rate (1.66 mg g−1 min−1) and better cyclic stability. Computational research reveals a work function-induced surface charge redistribution of the SnS 2 @NC heterojunction, which can lead to an auspicious surface electronic structure that reduces the adsorption energy to improve the diffusion kinetics toward sodium adsorption. This work contributes to providing a thoughtful understanding of the interface engineering between transition metal dichalcogenides and NC to construct high-performance CDI electrode materials for further industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]