Self-standing Co2.4Sn0.6O4 nano rods as high performance anode materials for sodium-ion battery and investigation on its reaction mechanism.

• A novel composition of Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 is prepared using the precipitation method. • The material is synthesized with self-standing nano-rods type morphology. • Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 anode delivers outstanding electrochemical properties. • The reaction mechanism of Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 anode is investigated systematically. • Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 anode has shown high electrochemical performance in sodium-ion full cell. The self-standing nanorod Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 is synthesized as a high-performance anode material in search of high capacity and stable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 nanorod exhibits a high reversible capacity of 576 mAh g−1 at a current density of 80 mA g−1 and shows excellent high-rate capability. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy study reveals the mechanisms of charge storage reaction and improved cycling performance of Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4. A partially limited conversion reaction of Co– and Sn-oxide during the cycling effectively regulate the irreversible capacity loss over the cycling that is commonly observed from the conversion and alloying reaction-based anode materials. Furthermore, Co 2.4 Sn 0.6 O 4 also exhibits superior sodium-ion full cell performance when coupled with a NaNi 2/3 Bi 1/3 O 2 cathode, demonstrating an energy density of 262 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]