Facile scalable synthesis and superior lithium storage performance of ball-milled MoS2–graphite nanocomposites

Abstract

A facile high-energy ball-milling method is developed to synthesize MoS₂–graphite (MoS₂–C) nanocomposites, which can be used for scalable industrial mass production. As an anode material for a lithium-ion battery, the obtained MoS₂–C composite with 30% C shows a discharge capacity as high as 736 mA h g⁻¹ in the first cycle and retains the capacity of up to 720 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹. Even at a large rate of 2000 mA g⁻¹, the reversible capacity is still 428 mA h g⁻¹. Moreover, a high Coulombic efficiency is attained. After carefully comparing it with a MoS₂–C composite with 20% C, raw MoS₂ and pure ball-milled MoS₂, we ascribe the remarkably improved performance of the MoS₂–C composite with 30% C to the synergistic effect of carbon coating and nano-crystallization derived by ball milling.