MoO2@MoS2 Nanoarchitectures for High-Loading Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

The capacity loading per unit area is of importance as specific capacity while evaluating the lithium-ion battery anode. However, the low conductivity of several advanced anode materials (such as molybdenum sulfide, MoS2) prohibits the wide application of materials. Nanostructural engineering becomes a key to overcome the obstacles. A one-step in situ conversion reaction is employed to synthesize molybdenum oxide (MoO2)-MoS2 core-shell nano-architectures (MoO2@MoS2) by partially sulfiding MoO2 into MoS2 using sulfur. The MoO2@MoS2 displays a 3D architecture constructed by hundreds of MoS2 ultrathin sheets with several layers arranged and fixed to an MoO2 particle vertically with the size in the range of 200-500 nm. MoO2 acts as the molybdenum source for the synthesis of MoS2, as well as the conductive substrate. The designed 3D architectures with empty space between MoS2 layers can prevent the damage originated from volume change of MoS2 undergoing charge/discharge process. The lithium storage capacities of the MoO2@MoS2 3D architectures are higher and the stability has been significantly improved compared to pure MoS2. 4 mAh cm(-2) capacity loading of MoO2@MoS2 has been achieved with a specific capacity of more than 1000 mAh g(-1).