Mo2C Nanodots Anchored on N-Doped Porous CNT Microspheres as Electrode for Efficient Li-Ion Storage

For the first time, red-blood-cell-like porous Mo2C@CNT microspheres are synthesized through a facile and scalable spray-drying approach. As an anode for the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery (LIB), the Mo2C@CNT hybrid demonstrates superior electrochemical performances with a high reversible capacity of 1065 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g(-1), a large and stable capacity of 878 mAh g(-1) even after 750 cycles at 1.6 A g(-1), and large capabilities of 460 and 190 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles even at 8.0 and 16.0 A g(-1), respectively, suggesting the outstanding long-cycle high-rate performance. The superior Li-ion storage is attributed to the unique porous hierarchical structure, as constructed with Mo2C nanodots homogeneously and tightly anchored on a porous and highly conductive N-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) microspheric skeleton, which provides abundant electrochemically active sites and facilitates the electron and ion transportation. This work provides a novel, scalable, and cost-effective route to the hybrid of transition-metal-based compounds and carbonaceous nanomaterials as high-performance electrode for LIBs.