Hierarchical nanostructures of nitrogen-doped molybdenum sulphide for supercapacitors

Abstract

Flower-like nanostructures of molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) have been effectively synthesised by the hydrothermal method and further doped with nitrogen using varying concentrations of urea. The formed hierarchical nanostructures are characterised by spectroscopy as well as electrochemical techniques. The structural analysis confirms the formation of a hexagonal MoS₂ crystal structure. The existence of MoO₂/MoO₃/MoS₂ composites is also observed after heating MoS₂ with a lower urea concentration. Surface morphological analysis of all the prepared compositions shows the appearance of flower-like nanostructures formed by the stacking of 20–80 nanosheets to create individual flower petals. Nitrogen doping shows enhancement in the specific capacitance of MoS₂ due to an increase in the electronic conductivity. Furthermore, the specific capacitance is enhanced due to the formation of an MoO₂/MoO₃/MoS₂ composite. The highest specific capacitance calculated from the charge–discharge curve for nitrogen-doped MoS₂ prepared using 1 : 1 (MoS₂ : urea) weight ratio is observed at around 129 (F g⁻¹) at 2 (A g⁻¹) specific current. The nitrogen-doped MoS₂ demonstrates almost four-fold enhancement in specific capacitance than pristine nano-shaped MoS₂.