Gyroidal Niobium Sulfide/Carbon Hybrid Monoliths for Electrochemical Energy Storage

• Published in: Batteries & supercaps 2019-08, Vol.2 (8), p.668-672
• Main Authors: Fleischmann, Simon, Dörr, Tobias S., Frank, Anna, Hieke, Stefan W., Doblas‐Jimenez, David, Scheu, Christina, de Oliveira, Peter W., Kraus, Tobias, Presser, Volker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: conversion reaction; electrochemical energy storage; lithium-ion batteries; materials science; transition metal dichalcogenide
• ISSN: 2566-6223; 2566-6223
• DOI: 10.1002/batt.201900035

Transition metal dichalcogenides are attractive two‐dimensional electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high reversible charge storage capacity. Hybridization of these materials with carbon promises enhanced performance by facilitating the access to reactive sites and extended mechanical stabilization. Herein, we introduce a NbS2/C hybrid material exhibiting a gyroidal microstructure synthesized through macromolecular co‐assembly of a tailored block copolymer and an organometallic niobium precursor and subsequent sulfidation. Our synthesis allows the preparation of mechanically stable monoliths with NbS2 nanocrystals engulfed in a highly porous carbon shell. Due to the curvature of the gyroidal structure, abundant reactive sites are exposed that lead to an attractive performance in a lithium‐containing electrolyte with a capacity of up to 400 mAh/g. An upwards spiral in battery performance: NbS2/C hybrid monoliths with a three‐dimensional gyroidal nanostructure are synthesized as anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. It is obtained by a macromolecular co‐assembly of a block copolymer and an organometallic niobium precursor followed by sulfidation. The curvature of the gyroid structure leads to the exposure of active sites, enabling conversion reactions with a high capacity of up to 400 mAh/g, while the carbon shell offers electrical conductivity and mechanical stability.