Insights into Interlayer Dislocation Augmented Zinc-Ion Storage Kinetics in MoS 2 Nanosheets for Rocking-Chair Zinc-Ion Batteries with Ultralong Cycle-Life

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2025-01, p.e2410408
• Main Authors: Hariram, Muruganandham, Pal, Pankaj K, Chandran, Anusree S, Nair, Manikantan R, Kumar, Manoj, Ganesha, Mukhesh K, Singh, Ashutosh K, Dasgupta, Basundhara, Goel, Saurav, Roy, Tribeni, Menezes, Prashanth W, Sarkar, Debasish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202410408

Increasing attention to sustainability and cost-effectiveness in energy storage sector has catalyzed the rise of rechargeable Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). However, finding replacement for limited cycle-life Zn-anode is a major challenge. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS ), an insertion-type 2D layered material, has shown promising characteristics as a ZIB anode. Nevertheless, its high Zn-ion diffusion barrier because of limited interlayer spacing substantiates the need for interlayer modifications. Here, N-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) are used to modify the interlayers of MoS , resulting in increased interlayer spacing (0.8 nm) and rich interlayer dislocations. MoS @N-CQDs attain a high specific capacity (258 mAh g at 0.1 A g ), good cycle life (94.5% after 2000 cycles), and an ultrahigh diffusion coefficient (10 to 10 cm s ), much better than pristine MoS . Ex situ Raman studies at charge/discharge states reveal that the N-CQDs-induced interlayer expansion and dislocations can reversibly accommodate the volume strain created by Zn-ion diffusion within MoS layers. Atomistic insight into the interlayer dislocation-induced Zn-ion storage of MoS is unveiled by molecular dynamic simulations. Finally, rocking-chair ZIB with MoS @N-CQDs anode and a Zn MnO cathode is realized, which achieved a maximum energy density of 120.3 Wh kg and excellent cyclic stability with 97% retention after 15 000 cycles.