Hierarchical Porous MoS2/C Nanospheres Self-Assembled by Nanosheets with High Electrochemical Energy Storage Performance

To overcome the deficiency of the volume expansion of MoS 2 as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), an effective strategy was developed to design hierarchical porous MoS 2 /carbon nanospheres via a facile, easy-operated hydrothermal method followed by annealing. FESEM and TEM images clearly showed that nanospheres are composed of ultra-thin MoS 2 /C nanosheets coated with carbon layer and possess an expanded interlayer spacing of 0.98 nm. As anodes for LIBs, MoS 2 /carbon nanospheres deliver an initial discharge capacity of 1307.77 mAh g −1 at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 . Moreover, a reversible capacity of 612 mAh g −1 was obtained even at 2 A g −1 and a capacity retention of 439 mAh g −1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g −1 . The improved electrochemical performance is ascribed to the hierarchical porous structure as well as the intercalation of carbon into lattice spacing of MoS 2 , which offers fast channels for ion/electron transport, relieves the influence of volume change and increases electrical conductivity of electrode. Meanwhile, the expanded interlayer spacing of MoS 2 in MoS 2 /C can decrease the ion diffusion resistance and alleviate the volumetric expansion during discharge/charge cycles.