MoS2/nitrogen-doped carbon hybrid nanorods with expanded interlayer spacing as an advanced anode material for lithium ion batteries

MoS2/nitrogen-doped carbon hybrid nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a facile simultaneous vapor sulfidization and carbonization method using MoOx/aniline nanorods as the precursor. The obtained hybrid nanorods are composed of MoS2 with expanded interlayer spacing of 1.02 nm and nitrogen-doped carbon, which exhibit outstanding electrochemical performances as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries including excellent high-rate capability of 667.3 mA h g(-1) at 10 A g(-1) and outstanding cyclic stability of 1110 mA h g(-1) at 1 A g(-1) after the charge-discharge process at various current densities. The outstanding lithium storage performances of the MoS2/nitrogen-doped carbon hybrid nanorods can be attributed to the synergistic effects of nitrogen-doped carbon and MoS2 with expanded interlayer spacing. Importantly, the abundant voids caused by the enlarged interlayer spacing of MoS2 are in favor of the diffusion of lithium ions, and can buffer the volume changes during the charge-discharge process and create additional active sites for lithium ion storage. Moreover, the hybridization of MoS2 with nitrogen-doped carbon can facilitate the electron transfer and improve the electronic conductivity.