N-Doped Carbon-WS2 Nanosheet Composites for Lithium-Ion Storage

Constructing a hierarchical nanostructure has been regarded as one of the most useful strategies to improve the cycling stability and rate performance of anode. Herein, hierarchical N-doped carbon combined with ultrathin WS2 nanosheets (N-C/WS2) was fabricated through a simple chelation coordination method and sulfuration treatment. Ultrathin WS2 nanosheets with few layers were embedded in the porous conductive carbon nanosheet structure, which not only restricted the aggregation of WS2 nanosheets but also enhanced the ion/electron transfer kinetics during the charge-discharge procedure. Owing to the robust interaction between WS2 nanosheets and N-doped carbon, the as-prepared N-C/WS2 exhibited excellent cycling stability and rate performance in lithium-ion storage. Specifically, N-C/WS2 anodes delivered an excellent retention capacity of 600 mAh g(-1) after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g(-1). This work provides a facile strategy to fabricate a three-dimensional hierarchical carbon hybrid composed of metal sulfides for energy storage and conversion fields.

Automated summary

Constructing a hierarchical nanostructure with N-doped carbon and ultrathin WS2 nanosheets resulted in excellent cycling stability and rate performance in lithium-ion storage. This study provides a facile strategy for fabricating three-dimensional hierarchical carbon hybrids composed of metal sulfides for energy storage and conversion applications.