Flower-shaped TiO2/C microspheres embedded with fish-scale-like MoS2 as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

In this study, flower-shaped TiO 2 /C embedded with fish-scale-like MoS 2 (TiO 2 /C/MoS 2 ) microspheres were synthesized by impregnating MoS 2 into the interspace of TiO 2 /C. The TiO 2 /C/MoS 2 microspheres (diameter of 2–3 µm), which are composed of several homogeneous flake-shaped petals, were then applied as anode in lithium-ion batteries. MoS 2 has a fish-scale shape with size of approximately 10 nm. In addition, MoS 2 is connected to the TiO 2 petal surface. In the flower-shaped TiO 2 /C/MoS 2 microspheres, TiO 2 acts as backbone for MoS 2 that can effectively minimize the strain of volume changes. The fish-scale-like MoS 2 can provide more active sites for reactions. The flower-shaped TiO 2 /C/MoS 2 electrode exhibits a discharge capacity of 621 mA h g −1 at 100 mA g −1 after 100 cycles, which is much higher than that of TiO 2 /C electrode (291 mA h g −1 ) and pure MoS 2 electrode (160 mA h g −1 ). Compared with TiO 2 /C and pure MoS 2 , the structural and compositional features of the TiO 2 /C/MoS 2 microspheres enhance the specific capacity and cycling stability.