Hollow metallic 1T MoS2 arrays grown on carbon cloth: a freestanding electrode for sodium ion batteries

Smart design and construction of advanced electrodes are crucial for the development of new electrochemical energy storage systems. In this study, we realized hollow 1T MoS2 arrays grown on carbon cloth via a template-free solvothermal method. Hollow MoS2 arrays, with diameters of 400–500 nm, are composed of curved MoS2 nanosheets. This well-designed structure and the introduction of metallic phase MoS2 can improve electrical conductivity, shorten the electron/sodium ion diffusion, and accommodate the large volume changes during cycling. Due to these features, when employed as an anode of sodium ion batteries, the hollow 1T MoS2 array electrode delivers superior sodium ion storage properties, including enhanced cycling stability (576 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 200 mA g−1) and high rate capability (276 mA h g−1 at high current density of 2 A g−1). Our study may guide the synthesis of other nanostructured metal sulfide anodes for electrochemical energy applications.