Two-dimensional thin-flake MoOx/ pinecone-derived carbon composite for excellent potassium ion storage

Molybdenum oxides as anode materials have received considerable attention because of their high-theoretical capacities. However, the abrupt volume changes during the charge/discharge process and the poor electrical conductivity lead to rapid capacity decay and poor cycling performance. Molybdenum oxides are anchored on carbon matrix to form composite that can effectively accelerate reaction kinetics and slow down capacity decay. Biomass-based carbon is a promising matrix, due to inexpensive, environment-friendly and abundant. In this study, the thin-flake MoO x was successfully anchored on the N-doped pinecone-derived carbon (NPC) by using a single-step hydrothermal method . When used as a potassium ion battery anode for the first time, the reversible capacity of optimised MoO x /NPC (210.4 mAh·g −1 ) was higher than that of pure MoO 2 (122.7 mAh·g −1 ) at 100 mA g −1 . Even when cycled at 500 mA g −1 , optimised MoO x /NPC exhibited a high capacity of 147.2 mAh·g −1 after 500 cycles. Moreover, the potassium ions storage mechanism was analyzed in detail. This finding demonstrates MoO x /NPC as a potential electrode for the development of high-performance PIBs, and provides a new strategy to reduce environmental pollution caused by treating pinecone and increase its additional value.