Engineering defect-enabled 3D porous MoS₂/C architectures for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Designing defect-rich MoS₂/C architectures with three-dimensional (3D) porous frame effectively improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to the improved conductivity and decreased diffusion distance of Li⁺ ions for lithium storage. Herein, we report a reliable morphology engineering method combining with tunable defects to synthesize defect-rich MoS₂ nanosheets with a few layers entrapped carbon sheath, forming a 3D porous conductive network architecture. The defect-rich MoS₂ nanosheets with expanded interlayers can provide a shortened ion diffusion path, and realize the 3D Li⁺ diffusion with faster kinetics. A 3D conductive interconnected carbon network is able to improve interparticle conductivity, concurrently maintaining the structural integrity. Benefiting from these intriguing features, the as-prepared MoS₂/C architectures exhibit excellent electrochemical performance: a high reversible capacity of 1163 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹ after 100 cycles and a high rate capability of 800 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹. Defect content in MoS₂/C architectures can be obtained by changing H₂ concentration. Compared with the counterparts with few defects, the defect-rich MoS₂/C architectures show improved electrochemical stability with a superior cycle life, illustrating a highly reversible capacity of 751 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ after 500 cycles.