Fabrication of 3D Hierarchical MoS2/Polyaniline and MoS2/C Architectures for Lithium-Ion Battery Applications

Abstract

In this work, three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical MoS₂/polyaniline (PANI) nanoflowers were successfully fabricated via a simple hydrothermal method. The crystal structure and morphology of the MoS₂/PANI nanoflowers were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR spectra, revealing that the nanoflowers were composed of ultrathin nanoplates which consisted of few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets with enlarged interlayer distance of the (002) plane and PANI. The excellent electrochemical performance of the 3D hierarchical MoS₂/PANI nanoflowers was demonstrated. Further 3D hierarchical MoS₂/C nanoflowers can be prepared conveniently by annealing the MoS₂/PANI sample in a N₂ atmosphere at 500 °C for 4 h. The obtained MoS₂/C sample exhibited more excellent electrochemical performance due to its excellent electronic conductivity resulting from the close integration of MoS₂ nanosheets with carbon matrix. High reversible capacity of 888.1 mAh g^–1 with the Coulombic efficiency maintained at above 90% from the first cycle were achieved at a current density of 100 mA g^–1. Even at a current density of 1000 mA g^–1, the reversible capacity of the MoS₂/C sample could be retained at 511 mAh g^–1. The excellent electrochemical performance of these two samples could be attributed to the combined action of enlarged interlayer distance of the ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets, 3D architectures, hierarchical structures, and conductive material. Thus, these 3D hierarchical nanoflowers are competent as promising anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.