High rate lithium-ion batteries from hybrid hollow spheres with a few-layered MoS2-entrapped carbon sheath synthesized by a space-confined reaction

Hybrid hollow spheres with a few-layered MoS2 entrapped carbon sheath (HFMECs) have been successfully synthesized by a 0D spatial confinement approach. In this facile process, a glucose-derived polysaccharide interacted with thiomolybdate on the surface of silica spheres followed by high temperature annealing to form an MoS2-C hybrid sheath. The glucose-derived polysaccharide layers not only serve as a carbon source, but also provide a 0D space-confined nanoreactor to restrict the kinetic growth of MoS2 sheets. When the HFMECs are used as a lithium-ion battery anode, the ultrathin shell (similar to 12 nm) and few-layered MoS2 nanosheets (<= 5 layers) in the hybrid enhance the kinetics of Li+ and electron transport, resulting in excellent rate capability (739, 676, 613 and 563 mA h g(-1) at 3, 5, 8 and 10 A g(-1), respectively). The hollow structure and high mass content (91 wt%) of MoS2 in the composite guarantee cycle stability and allow for efficient storage (823 mA h g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) after 200 cycles). The exceptional performance of HFMECs combined with the straightforward approach makes these materials very promising for lithium ion batteries.