Polypyrrole-assisted synthesis of roselike MoS2/nitrogen-containing carbon/graphene hybrids and their robust lithium storage performances

Abstract

Roselike MoS₂/nitrogen-containing carbon/graphene (MoS₂/NC/G) hybrids were successfully synthesized via a facile polypyrrole (PPy)-assisted hydrothermal approach in combination with high-temperature calcination. The obtained MoS₂/NC/G hybrids manifest roselike MoS₂ composed of nanosheets coupled uniformly on NC/G nanosheets due to the strong interactions between MoS₂ and the abundant nitrogen-containing functional groups of NC. When used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the MoS₂/NC/G hybrids exhibit enhanced electrochemical energy storage performances compared to the bare MoS₂ nanosheets, including high specific capacity (1570.6 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹), excellent rate capability (704.8 mA h g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹) and good cycling stability (96.4% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g⁻¹). The enhanced lithium storage properties of the MoS₂/NC/G hybrids can be ascribed to the boosted electronic conductivity arising from the novel hybrid nanostructures of MoS₂/NC/G.