Humate-assisted Synthesis of MoS2/C Nanocomposites via Co-Precipitation/Calcination Route for High Performance Lithium Ion Batteries

• Main Authors: Qin Geng, Xin Tong, Gideon Evans Wenya, Chao Yang, Jide Wang, A. S. Maloletnev, Zhiming M. Wang, Xintai Su
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2018-04-01
• Series: Nanoscale Research Letters
• Subjects: MoS2/C nanocomposites; Humate; Co-precipitation/calcination route; Anode; Lithium-ion batteries
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11671-018-2537-y

Abstract A facile, cost-effective, non-toxic, and surfactant-free route has been developed to synthesize MoS2/carbon (MoS2/C) nanocomposites. Potassium humate consists of a wide variety of oxygen-containing functional groups, which is considered as promising candidates for functionalization of graphene. Using potassium humate as carbon source, two-dimensional MoS2/C nanosheets with irregular shape were synthesized via a stabilized co-precipitation/calcination process. Electrochemical performance of the samples as an anode of lithium ion battery was measured, demonstrating that the MoS2/C nanocomposite calcinated at 700 °C (MoS2/C-700) electrode showed outstanding performance with a high discharge capacity of 554.9 mAh g− 1 at a current density of 100 mA g− 1 and the Coulomb efficiency of the sample maintained a high level of approximately 100% after the first 3 cycles. Simultaneously, the MoS2/C-700 electrode exhibited good cycling stability and rate performance. The success in synthesizing MoS2/C nanocomposites via co-precipitation/calcination route may pave a new way to realize promising anode materials for high-performance lithium ion batteries.