Universal Access to Two‐Dimensional Mesoporous Heterostructures by Micelle‐Directed Interfacial Assembly

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2020-10, Vol.59 (44), p.19570-19575
• Main Authors: Wang, Jie, Chang, Zhi, Ding, Bing, Li, Tao, Yang, Gaoliang, Pang, Zhibin, Nakato, Teruyuki, Eguchi, Miharu, Kang, Yong‐Mook, Na, Jongbeom, Guan, Bu Yuan, Yamauchi, Yusuke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assembly; Batteries; Block copolymers; Carbon; Composite materials; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electrons; Energy storage; Formaldehyde resins; Heat treatment; Heterostructures; Lithium; Lithium sulfur batteries; Melamine; mesoporous carbon; Micelles; Morphology; Nanosheets; Renewable energy; self-assembly; Sulfur; Two dimensional materials
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007063

Two‐dimensional (2D) mesoporous heterostructures combining ultrathin nanosheet morphology, periodic porous surface structures, and diverse hybrid compositions have become increasingly important for renewable energy storage and electronics. However, it remains a great challenge to develop a universal method to prepare 2D mesoporous heterostructures. Herein, we report a composite‐micelle‐directed interfacial assembly method to synthesize heterostructures of an ultrathin 2D material covered with mesoporous monolayers assembled on both sides. To demonstrate the concept, we first fabricated a new sandwichlike carbon@MXene@carbon mesoporous heterostructure through the self‐assembly of exfoliated MXene nanosheets and block copolymer F127/melamine‐formaldehyde resin composite micelles and subsequent thermal treatment. Finally, we demonstrate that the carbon@MXene@carbon mesoporous heterostructured nanosheets manifest remarkably enhanced electrochemical performance as a cathode material for lithium–sulfur batteries. A general composite‐micelle‐directed interfacial assembly method was developed to prepare mesoporous heterostructures (see picture). With their structural and compositional advantages, the unique sandwichlike mesoporous carbon@MXene@mesoporous carbon heterostructured nanosheets exhibited remarkable electrochemical performance as a cathode material for lithium–sulfur batteries.