Exfoliated NbSe2 nanosheet@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites as a high performance anode of lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), as next-generation two-dimensional materials, have gained considerable attention in energy storage applications through the incorporation of functional materials. In this work, we investigated NbSe₂ TMDCs possessing metallic properties through the exfoliation of mono/few layered nanosheets and their subsequent incorporation with polypyrrole, a conducting polymer. The charge–charge interaction between the positively charged pyrrole and negatively charged NbSe₂ nanosheets was facilitated through a chemical incorporation method, resulting in NbSe₂@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites where the pyrrole molecules polymerized along the surface of NbSe₂ nanosheets. The synergistic effect observed in NbSe₂@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites demonstrated high capacity for lithium storage (955 mA h g⁻¹) with excellent cycling stability (>100 cycles) and rate performance (4 A g⁻¹), surpassing the performance of pristine NbSe₂ or polypyrrole electrodes. In particular, the NbSe₂@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposite exhibited 361 mA h g⁻¹ discharge capacity retention within a charge/discharge time of less than 6 minutes, which is comparable with the capacity of conventional graphite anodes. Our hybrid approach utilizing TMDCs and carbon structures could provide significant insight for the utilization of novel TMDC materials in energy storage applications.