Reviving bulky MoS2 as an advanced anode for lithium-ion batteriesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c9ta01089k

• Main Authors: Li, Shicai, Liu, Ping, Huang, Xiaobing, Tang, Yougen, Wang, Haiyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ta01089k

Bulky MoS 2 obtained from molybdenite is an inexpensive and naturally abundant product with high intrinsic Li storage capacity originating from the Li storage capabilities of its Mo atoms and active S element. How to release the intrinsic capacity of bulky MoS 2 is of great interest but has not been explored to date. Herein, we developed a surface-modification triggered self-assembling process to construct a robust 3D bulky MoS 2 @C/RGO composite. The adjacent N-doped amorphous carbon layer and outer RGO component not only can help immobilize the active Mo atoms and polysulfide ions during extended cycles but can also help release volumetric strain and accelerate electron transportation. Furthermore, the hierarchical 3D porous structure is beneficial for electrolyte penetration and Li ion diffusion. As a result, the intrinsic Li storage capability of bulky MoS 2 is readily released. It delivers the discharge capacity of 1189 mA h g −1 at 200 mA g −1 after 100 cycles. At the higher current density of 1 A g −1 , the reversible capacity of 770 mA h g −1 is still maintained. Further examination of the MoS 2 -PDA-GO30//LiCoO 2 full cells suggests that the as-obtained sample (1750 W h kg −1 ) is promising to achieve practical applications. This study may shed some light on the direct usage of bulky MoS 2 powder as a high-performance LIB anode. Moreover, the synthesis strategy proposed herein may be a versatile protocol for the rational design of other bulky materials, such as Si and metal oxides, for high-performance energy storage devices. The high intrinsic Li storage capacity of bulky MoS 2 is readily released by a rationally designed composite with a 3D conductive carbon skeleton.