Ultrafast lithium energy storage enabled by interfacial construction of interlayer-expanded MoS2/N-doped carbon nanowires

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been extensively regarded as a promising host material for lithium ion batteries due to the reversible insertion of Li⁺ into the layered structures. However, achieving ultrafast and durable Li⁺ storage has a challenge of designing largely exposed edge-oriented and kinetically favorable MoS₂-based nanostructures. Herein, we report an interfacial synthesis strategy for facile construction of ultrathin MoS₂/N-doped carbon nanowires (MoS₂/N–C NWs) (ca. 10 μm in length) with a largely expanded (002) plane of MoS₂ (d = 1.03 nm, vs. bulk 0.62 nm). This hierarchical nanowire configuration composed of edge-oriented and interlayer-expanded MoS₂ nanosheets can not only effectively decrease the diffusion energy barriers for Li⁺ intercalation and improve the number of electrochemically active sites, but also provide fast electron pathways. As an anode for LIBs, the MoS₂/N–C NWs demonstrate excellent rate capabilities (600 mA h g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ and 453 mA h g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹) and long-term durability (86.7% retention at 5 A g⁻¹ over 500 cycles). This study demonstrates the great potential of the MoS₂/N–C NWs as promising anode materials for ultrafast lithium energy storage.