MoS2-covered SnS nanosheets as anode material for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity and long cycle life

Abstract

A designed hierarchical nanostructure consisting of SnS nanosheets and ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets was achieved by a facile hydrothermal process with the assistance of fluoride and glucose. In this unique architecture, on the one hand, SnS and MoS₂ nanosheets can greatly reduce the Li-ion and electron diffusion distance in the electrode. On the other hand, MoS₂ nanosheets and amorphous carbon can not only prevent the direct exposure of SnS to the electrolyte but also maintain the structural stability of the electrode. In addition, the MoS₂ nanosheets can offer more active sites for hosting lithium ions, resulting in higher capacity. When evaluated as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), this SnS/MoS₂–C composite exhibited stable cycling performance (989.7 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ after 60 cycles), superior rate capability (675 mA h g⁻¹ even at 5.0 A g⁻¹) and a long cycle life (718 mA h g⁻¹ at 2.0 A g⁻¹ after 700 cycles). Therefore, this SnS/MoS₂–C composite is a promising candidate as anode material for next-generation high-performance LIBs.