Ultrafast lithium energy storage enabled by interfacial construction of interlayer-expanded MoS2/N-doped carbon nanowires

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been extensively regarded as a promising host material for lithium ion batteries due to the reversible insertion of Li+ into the layered structures. However, achieving ultrafast and durable Li+ storage has a challenge of designing largely exposed edge-oriented and kinetically favorable MoS2-based nanostructures. Herein, we report an interfacial synthesis strategy for facile construction of ultrathin MoS2/N-doped carbon nanowires (MoS2/N–C NWs) (ca. 10 μm in length) with a largely expanded (002) plane of MoS2 (d = 1.03 nm, vs. bulk 0.62 nm). This hierarchical nanowire configuration composed of edge-oriented and interlayer-expanded MoS2 nanosheets can not only effectively decrease the diffusion energy barriers for Li+ intercalation and improve the number of electrochemically active sites, but also provide fast electron pathways. As an anode for LIBs, the MoS2/N–C NWs demonstrate excellent rate capabilities (600 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 and 453 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1) and long-term durability (86.7% retention at 5 A g−1 over 500 cycles). This study demonstrates the great potential of the MoS2/N–C NWs as promising anode materials for ultrafast lithium energy storage.