MoS2 nanosheets@N-carbon microtubes: A rational design of sheet-on-tube architecture for enhanced lithium storage performances

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs, typically MoS2) have shown great promise as anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the layered structure. However, the low electric and ionic conductivities and the large volume expansion of MoS2 during lithiation inevitably result in a fast capacity decrease and limited cycling life. In this work, a unique sheet-on-tube micro/nanostructure was designed and realized to tackle the above mentioned drawbacks. In detail, MoS2 nanosheets are perpendicularly anchored on the N-doped carbon microtubes (NCMs) by a facile approach. NCMs was selected as the support to prevent aggregation of MoS2 nanosheets, and serve as the pathway for electron conduction, as well as a media to alleviate the volume change of MoS2 during lithiation/delithiation. Due to the advantageous structure, the MoS2@NCMs show significantly enhanced lithium storage properties in comparison to pure MoS2. The design strategy and mechanism demonstrated in this work is potentially useful for developing high-capacity electrode materials for LIBs.