Scalable production of transition metal disulphide/graphite nanoflake composites for high-performance lithium storage

Abstract

A facile, industrially viable strategy is proposed for the scalable production of transition metal disulphide/graphite nanoflake composites by a combination of ball milling and short-time sonication. The experimental conditions are mild and energy efficient, and the yields are fairly high. This strategy can produce larger MoS₂ and WS₂ nanoflakes with more lithium storage sites than the conventional, long-time sonication method. Besides, the obtained graphite nanoflakes have a higher degree of lattice integrity than reduced graphene oxide that is structurally permanently damaged, and can thus serve as a high-efficiency conductive additive. A prominent synergy is witnessed between the excellent electrochemical performances of the MoS₂ and WS₂ nanoflakes and the high electronic conductivity of the graphite nanoflakes. The resulting MoS₂ and WS₂/graphite nanoflake composites exhibit superior lithium storage capacities, cycling stabilities and rate capabilities, thus providing a basis for developing high-performance anodes of next-generation lithium-ion batteries.