One-pot synthesis of uniform MoSe2 nanoparticles as high performance anode materials for lithium/sodium ion batteries

Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) have attracted much attention as an anode material for lithium/sodium ion batteries due to its specific layered structure. Here, highly-uniform MoSe2 nanoparticles are successfully synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method with addition of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) following by calcination treatment. PVP serves as a surfactant preventing the over-agglomeration of MoSe2 nanosheets and contributing to the well-organized accumulation of MoSe2 nanosheets into nanoparticles. When evaluated as anode for lithium ion batteries, the MoSe2 nanoparticles show enhanced cycle stability and rate performance comparing to the MoSe2 bulk prepared without addition of PVP. After 200 cycles, the MoSe2 nanoparticles remain a specific capacity of 573.9 mAh g−1 at a rate of 200 mA g−1. Meanwhile, MoSe2 nanoparticles also display good sodium storage performance. Under the current density of 500 mA g−1, MoSe2 nanoparticles exhibit reversible capacity of 374.9 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles.