Template-assisted sol–gel synthesis of porous MoS₂/C nanocomposites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Porous MoS₂/C nanocomposites have been successfully via a sol–gel route with ammonium molybdatetetrahydrate ((NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O) as molybdenum source, glucose as carbon source and tetramethyloxysilane (TMOS) as gelation accelerator, subsequently followed by high-temperature sulfuration and further NaOH etching to remove silica template derived from TMOS. The as-prepared MoS₂/C nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and the effect of molybdenum precursor mass on the synthesis of product was also investigated. The Mo and TMOS mass ratio obviously affects the gelation time, phase composition and morphology of the resultant product, and an appropriate Mo and TMOS mass ratio allows the formation of lamellar structure as well as perfect MoS₂ phase. The as-prepared MoS₂/C nanocomposite with Mo and TMOS mass ratio of 7:3 exhibits a BET surface area of 31 m²g⁻¹ and a mesopore size of 20 nm, and demonstrates good electrochemical performances with 400 mA h g⁻¹ specific reversible capacity after 60 cycles owing to the pore structure and synergistic effect between MoS₂ and amorphous carbon.