Exfoliated NbSe2 nanosheet@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites as a high performance anode of lithium-ion batteries

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), as next-generation two-dimensional materials, have gained considerable attention in energy storage applications through the incorporation of functional materials. In this work, we investigated NbSe2 TMDCs possessing metallic properties through the exfoliation of mono/few layered nanosheets and their subsequent incorporation with polypyrrole, a conducting polymer. The charge–charge interaction between the positively charged pyrrole and negatively charged NbSe2 nanosheets was facilitated through a chemical incorporation method, resulting in NbSe2@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites where the pyrrole molecules polymerized along the surface of NbSe2 nanosheets. The synergistic effect observed in NbSe2@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposites demonstrated high capacity for lithium storage (955 mA h g−1) with excellent cycling stability (>100 cycles) and rate performance (4 A g−1), surpassing the performance of pristine NbSe2 or polypyrrole electrodes. In particular, the NbSe2@polypyrrole hybrid nanocomposite exhibited 361 mA h g−1 discharge capacity retention within a charge/discharge time of less than 6 minutes, which is comparable with the capacity of conventional graphite anodes. Our hybrid approach utilizing TMDCs and carbon structures could provide significant insight for the utilization of novel TMDC materials in energy storage applications.