Solvent‐Exchange Strategy toward Aqueous Dispersible MoS₂ Nanosheets and Their Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Sphere Nanocomposites for Efficient Lithium/Sodium Ion Storage

Abstract

Major challenges in developing 2D transition‐metal disulfides (TMDs) as anode materials for lithium/sodium ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) lie in rational design and targeted synthesis of TMD‐based nanocomposite structures with precisely controlled ion and electron transport. Herein, a general and scalable solvent‐exchange strategy is presented for uniform dispersion of few‐layer MoS2 (f‐MoS2) from high‐boiling‐point solvents (N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N‐dimethyl formaldehyde (DMF), etc.) into low‐boiling‐point solvents (water, ethanol, etc.). The solvent‐exchange strategy dramatically simplifies high‐yield production of dispersible MoS2 nanosheets as well as facilitates subsequent decoration of MoS2 for various applications. As a demonstration, MoS2‐decorated nitrogen‐rich carbon spheres (MoS2‐NCS) are prepared via in situ growth of polypyrrole and subsequent pyrolysis. Benefiting from its ultrathin feature, largely exposed active surface, highly conductive framework and excellent structural integrity, the 2D core–shell architecture of MoS2‐NCS exhibits an outstanding reversible capacity and excellent cycling performance, achieving high initial discharge capacity of 1087.5 and 508.6 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, capacity retentions of 95.6% and 94.2% after 500 and 250 charge/discharge cycles at 1 A g−1, for lithium/sodium ion storages, respectively.

Metal oxide-based composite for non-enzymatic glucose sensors

“…Carbon spheres (CSs) have been extensively applied to fuel cells, supercapacitors, and electrochemical analysis, owing to their low density, large specific surface area, high conductivity, and great thermal stability [161,162]. Therefore, this material can be used to integrate with metal oxides for electrochemical glucose sensing.…”

Encapsulation of 2D MoS2 nanosheets into 1D carbon nanobelts as anodes with enhanced lithium/sodium storage properties

“…8,9 Unfortunately, MoS 2 electrodes still have disadvantages that lead to an undesirable electrochemical performance, such as poor electronic/ionic conductivity, easy stacking/restacking, and large volume variation upon cycling. 10–12…”

Metal–Nitrogen–Carbon Catalysts of Specifically Coordinated Configurations toward Typical Electrochemical Redox Reactions

“…[35][36][37][38] The pyridinic N structure has been proposed as one of the most favorable metal-nitrogen coordination species for M-N-C catalysts. [39][40][41] Thus, rational designs for M-N coordination configurations may offer promising opportunities in obtaining high-efficient M-N-C catalysts with high amounts of metal active centers and an optimized coordination environment. [42][43][44][45][46] Despite the broad prospects of M-N-C catalysis and progress being made over the past decade in catalytic applications of ORR OER, HER, and CO2RR, the precise control of coordination configuration of the metal with nitrogen still remains a major challenge in the in-depth exploration of the catalytic mechanism of the M-N-C catalysts.…”