Fabrication of WS2-nanoflowers@rGO composite as an anode material for enhanced electrode performance in lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, we descried a simple method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) composite materials, WS2-nanoflowers @ reduced graphene oxide (WS2-NF@rGO), in which rGO crossed-link the isolated WS2-NF to construct a 3D conductive network and provided protection against the volume changes of WS2 during electrochemical processes simultaneously. This unique structure of the WS2-NF@rGO composite could not only promote both ion and electron diffusion, but also enhance the electrode stability, thus obtaining a high-capacity and long-cycle anode material for lithium-ion batteries. As a result, the WS2-NF@rGO exhibited a reversible capacity of 730 mA h g(-1) after 150 cycles at 100 mA g(-1) and maintained a capacity of higher than 260 mA h g(-1) at 2 A thus exhibiting great potential as an anode material for lithium storage. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.