A unique hierarchical composite with auricular-like MoS2 nanosheets erected on graphene for enhanced lithium storage

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) is a promising anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high specific capacity and typical two-dimensional layered structure. In this work, the MoS 2 -graphene composite with unique hierarchical structure was successfully prepared by ethanolamine-assisted hydrothermal method. Raman spectroscopy showed that MoS 2 in the composite was a single or double layer. And the I D / I G value (1.13) of the composite indicated that it had some defects and disordered structure. X-ray photoelectron spectra illustrated that the majority of Mo and S elements existed in the composite in the form of Mo 4+ and S 2− , and the Mo to S atomic ratio was 1:1.89. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the majority of auricular-like MoS 2 nanosheets uniformly distributed upright on the graphene surface. Serving as anode material for LIBs, the composite exhibited a high reversible specific capacity, 1133 mAh g −1 (90.4% of the initial capacity) at 200 mA g −1 after 150 cycles. In addition, a specific capacity of 774 mAh g −1 was still achieved even at a high current density of 1000 mA g −1 after 600 cycles. The excellent electrochemical property of the composite was attributed to the combined action of unique hierarchical architecture, unstacked MoS 2 nanosheets, and highly conductive graphene. This work may offer a rational strategy for synthesizing transition mental sulfide-graphene composite with two-dimensional hierarchical structure as high-performance LIBs anodes. A combined graph of synthesis process, SEM image, and galvanostatic charge-discharge curves of the MoS 2 -GR composite