Three-dimensional nanotubes composed of carbon-anchored ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets with enhanced lithium storage

Abstract

MoS₂ nanotubes (denoted as MoS₂ NTs) assembled from well-aligned amorphous carbon-modified ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets (denoted as MoS₂ NT@C) were successfully fabricated via a facile solvothermal method combined with subsequent annealing treatment. With the assistance of octylamine as a solvent and carbon source, interconnected MoS₂ nanosheets (denoted as MoS₂ NSs) can assemble into hierarchical MoS₂ NTs. Such a hybrid nanostructure can effectively facilitate charge transport and accommodate volume variation upon prolonged charge/discharge cycling for reversible lithium storage. As a result, the MoS₂ NT@C composite manifests a very stable high reversible capacity of around 1351 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹; even after 150 cycles, the electrode reaches a capacity of 1106 mA h g⁻¹ and it retains a reversible capacity of 650 mA h g⁻¹ after the 10th cycle at a current density of 3 A g⁻¹, all of which indicate that the MoS₂ NT@C nanocomposite is a promising negative electrode material for high-energy lithium ion batteries.