Structure-designed synthesis of 3D MoS2 anchored on ionic liquid modified rGO–CNTs inspired by a honeycomb for excellent lithium storage

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2020-03, Vol.8 (9), p.4868-4876
• Main Authors: Xia, Jun, Li, Ruixing, Wang, Tianshuai, Yang, Puheng, Zhou, Heliang, Li, Jiajie, Xiong, Gangyi, Xing, Yalan, Zhang, Shichao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anchoring; Batteries; Carbon nanotubes; Cycles; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Energy storage; Graphene; Honeycomb structures; Ionic liquids; Ions; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Molybdenum disulfide; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Rechargeable batteries; Self-assembly; Structural hierarchy; Superstructures; Three dimensional composites
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ta12346f

MoS2 is currently under intensive research as a potential candidate for energy storage applications because of its high theoretical capacity. However, unmodified MoS2 suffers from inferior rate capability and poor long-term cycling stability. Inspired by a hornet making a nest and the favorable shape and structural strength of a honeycomb, a composite with a three-dimensional highly porous sandwiched honeycomb structure has been successfully prepared for the first time. Its novel structure originates from anchoring self-assembled flower-like porous MoS2 slices (MoS2-FPSs) on layer-by-layer reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with the assistance of an ionic liquid (IL). The MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets are self-assembled to form MoS2-FPSs and then co-assembled with rGO and CNTs to generate a hierarchical porous structure. By virtue of this novel superstructure, the electrode demonstrates remarkable electrochemical properties with a high initial capacity (1456 mA h g−1) and an enhanced high rate capability (712 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1), as well as one of the best long-term cycling stabilities with a capacity decay as low as 0.0075% per cycle (745 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 1000 cycles), confirming its potential application in high-performance lithium-ion batteries.