Vertically Grown Few-Layer MoS2 Nanosheets on Hierarchical Carbon Nanocages for Pseudocapacitive Lithium Storage with Ultrahigh-Rate Capability and Long-Term Recyclability.

ABSTRACT

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) is an intensively studied anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity, but it is still confronted by severe challenges of unsatisfactory rate capability and cycle life. Herein, few-layer MoS2 nanosheets, vertically grown on hierarchical carbon nanocages (hCNC) by a facile hydrothermal method, introduce pseudocapacitive lithium storage owing to the highly exposed MoS2 basal planes, enhanced conductivity, and facilitated electrolyte access arising from good hybridization with hCNC. Thus, the optimized MoS2 /hCNC exhibits reversible capacities of 1670 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 50 cycles, 621 mAh g-1 at 5.0 A g-1 after 500 cycles, and 196 mAh g-1 at 50 A g-1 after 2500 cycles, which are among the best for MoS2 -based anode materials. The specific power and specific energy, which can reach 16.1 kW kg electrode - 1 and 252.8 Wh kg electrode - 1 after 3000 cycles, respectively, indicate great potential in high-power and long-life LIBs. These findings suggest a promising strategy for exploring advanced anode materials with high reversible capacity, high-rate capability, and long-term recyclability.