Construction of porous MoS2-Mo2C@C aerogel for use as superior lithium-ion battery anode

Anode materials based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) have been extensively investigated for lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications. Herein, a MoS2-Mo2C heterostructure was implanted into a porous carbon aerogel. Morphological analysis showed that a porous structure was obtained, with MoS2 nanosheets and Mo2C nanoparticles integrated in the bulky structure. Electrochemical analysis showed that good long-term cycling stability and superb rate performance were achieved when the prepared aerogel was used as an LIB anode. At 2.0 A g−1, a large specific capacity of 598.1 mAh g−1 was achieved. Moreover, after 3000 cycles at a current density of 10.0 A g−1, the aerogel anode maintained a 375.1 mAh g−1 specific capacity, demonstrating a low attenuation rate. Based on the characterization and analysis, a reaction mechanism was proposed. The outstanding electrochemical performance of this anode was ascribed to its porous structure, large surface area, and the defect-rich heterostructure, which synergistically improved its performance. Therefore, this material exhibits great potential for application in LIBs and other energy-related fields.