Molybdenum Sulfide Nanoflowers as Electrodes for Efficient and Scalable Lithium‐Ion Capacitors

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2024-07, Vol.30 (40), p.e202400907-n/a
• Main Authors: Mir, Rameez Ahmad, Hoseini, Amir Hosein Ahmadian, Hansen, Evan J., Tao, Li, Zhang, Yue, Liu, Jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capacitance; Capacitors; Charge efficiency; Diffusion rate; Dimensional stability; Dimensionally stable anodes; Electric potential; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy storage; Hybrid vehicles; Intercalation/deintercalation; Layer structure; Lithium; Lithium-ion capacitor; Molybdenum; Molybdenum disulfide; Nanoflowers; Pseudocapacitors; Redox reactions; Shelf life; Stability tests; Sulfides; Supercapacitors; Voltage
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400907

Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) bridge the unique advantages of batteries and capacitors and are considered promising energy storage devices for hybrid vehicles and other electronic gadgets. Lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs) have attained particular interest due to their higher energy and power density than traditional supercapacitor devices. The limited voltage window and the deterioration of anode materials upsurged the demand for efficient and stable electrode materials. Two‐dimensional (2D) molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) is a promising candidate for developing efficient and durable LICs due to its wide lithiation potential and unique layer structure, enhancing charge storage efficiency. Modifying the extrinsic features, such as the dimensions and shape at the nanoscale, serves as a potential path to overcome the sluggish kinetics observed in the LICs. Herein, the MoS2 nanoflowers have been synthesized through a hydrothermal route. The developed LIC exhibited a specific capacitance of 202.4 F g−1 at 0.25 A g−1 and capacitance retention of >90 % over 5,000 cycles. Using an ether electrolyte improved the voltage window (2.0 V) and enhanced the stability performance. The ex‐situ material characterization after the stability test reveals that the storage mechanism in MoS2‐LICs is not diffusion‐controlled. Instead, the fast surface redox reactions, especially intercalation/deintercalation of ions, are more prominent for charge storage. MoS2 nanoflowers exhibit a highly efficient and stable performance in lithium‐ion capacitors with an ether‐based electrolyte. This is due to the fast surface redox reactions, particularly the intercalation/deintercalation pseudocapacitive mechanism enabled by nanostructuring and synergistic 2D features of MoS2. Tailoring the extrinsic features (shape and dimensions) serves as a potential path to overcome sluggish kinetics often observed in lithium‐ion capacitors.