Ultrathin MoO2 nanosheets for superior lithium storage

Ultrathin MoO2 nanosheets encapsulated in carbon matrix were fabricated through a facile interfacial self-assembly of laminar MoO3 nanosheets, followed by thermal reduction to MoO2 mediated by glucose. The resulting MoO2/C nanosheets exhibited a superior Li-storage capacity, retaining 1051 mAh g(-1) over 100 cycles at a rate of 0.5 A g(-1), and 719 mAh g(-1) over another 100 cycles at a high rate of 5 A g(-1) (based on the total mass of MoO2 and carbon). More importantly, the MoO2/C nanosheets exhibit robust rate capability, affording a stable capacity of 544 mAh g(-1) at an extremely high rate of 10 A g(-1), thereby suggesting their great potential as promising electrode materials for high power battery applications such as electric automobiles and power tools. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.