In situ synthesis of concentric C@MoS₂ core–shell nanospheres as anode for lithium ion battery

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity, but it is suffered from intrinsically poor electronic/ionic conductivity and vast volume expansion/contraction during repeated charge–discharge process. In the present work, we report a spherical C@MoS₂ nanocomposite as a high-performance anode for LIBs. The C@MoS₂ nanocomposite with carbon nanosphere cores and ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheet shells was prepared through an in situ solvothermal reaction, where carbon and MoS₂ were simultaneously formed in one pot. The basal plane of MoS₂ layer is highly parallel to the surface of carbon sphere, constructing a concentric nanostructure. This unique architecture can provide strong and stable interfacial contact between the MoS₂ nanosheets and carbon and thus improve its structural stability and maximize the electrical contact. Owing to the effective combination and synergistic interaction of the two nanoscale phases, the C@MoS₂ nanocomposite exhibited markedly enhanced performance with high rate capability and cycle stability for reversible Li⁺ storage.