Surface modification of MoOxSy on porous TiO2 nanospheres as an anode material with highly reversible and ultra-fast lithium storage properties

Abstract

Here we report on a unique nanohybrid made of a molybdenum oxysulfide (MoO_xS_y) layer on porous TiO₂ nanospheres, which has been fabricated in large quantities through a facile photochemical-assembly process. The as-formed core–sheath TiO₂@MoO_xS_y nanocomposite not only inherits the features of the interior TiO₂ nanospheres with high porosity and high surface area, but also possesses enhanced conductivity from the external MoO_xS_y layer. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries, such a unique TiO₂@MoO_xS_y nanohybrid exhibits superior lithium storage performances with high specific capacity and excellent rate capability. The synergetic effects of the enhanced electrical conductivity of uniform MoO_xS_y coating and the porously nanoarchitectured TiO₂ nanocrystal assemblies may endow the TiO₂@MoO_xS_y electrode with remarkable lithium-storage performances.