Perpendicular growth of few-layered MoS2 nanosheets on MoO3 nanowires fabricated by direct anion exchange reactions for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

One dimensional (1D) hierarchical core–shell structures (MoO₃@MoS₂) constructed by perpendicular growth of few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets on MoO₃ nanowires were successfully fabricated by a direct anion-exchange reaction of the inorganic MoO₃ nanowire precursor. The morphology and structure of the products can be controlled by adjusting the hybrid solvent in the anion-exchange process, and the contents of MoS₂ and MoO₃ in the core–shell nanowires can be easily tuned by adding a varied amount of thiourea. Although the organic–inorganic precursor was not used, the 1D structure of the inorganic MoO₃ nanowire was still maintained. An amazing feature of the MoO₃@MoS₂ nanowire was its 1D hierarchical core–shell structure integrated with two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets and 1D MoO₃ nanowires. The numerous few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets grew perpendicularly on the MoO₃ nanowires, providing plenty of diffusion channels for Li⁺ during the insertion/extraction process. Due to the abundant hardly stacked MoS₂ nanosheets and the synergistic effects between MoO₃ nanowires and MoS₂ nanosheets, this unique MoO₃@MoS₂ nanowire showed greatly improved Li⁺ storage properties when evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).