MoS2 Anchored on Agar-Derived 3D Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Lithium-Ion Batteries

MoS2 has been explored as a potential material for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the limited number of active sites and poor conductivity restrain its applications. Herein, a facile method is reported to construct MoS2 nanosheets (MoS(2)NSs) grown on agar-derived 3D nitrogen-doped porous carbon (MoS2-NPC). The as-prepared MoS2-NPC composite exhibits good stability and HER electrocatalytic properties with a low overpotential of 209 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) and a small Tafel slope of 41 mV dec(-1). Furthermore, as an anode of LIBs, it delivers an initial discharge capacity of 1289 mAh eat 0.1 A g(-1) and rate capability of 712 and 419 mAh g(-1) at 0.5 and 2.0 A g(-1), respectively. This is attributed to the synergistic effects and unique 3D network structure, which avoids the aggregation of MoS2 and results in more exposed active sites. The agar-derived 3D nitrogen-doped porous carbon can act as a support material for MoS(2)NSs dispersed on the surface, providing a cheap and efficient strategy to prepare high quality catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion and storage applications.