Electrolyte regulation achieving MoS2/C nanofiber for stable potassium-ion storage

Abstract

Due to the pronounced expansion exhibited by sulfides in K-ion batteries (KIBs), achieving both high capacity and extended cycle life remains a formidable challenge. In our study, we utilized electrospinning to craft a self-standing MoS2/C electrode, and the incorporation of one-dimensional carbon was identified as a key factor significantly boosting its electronic conductivity. Addressing stability concerns, we meticulously regulated the salt concentration in ether solvents, revealing that the self-standing MoS2/C electrode exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance at a high-concentration electrolyte. After optimization, the MoS2/C electrode in 5 M ether electrolyte presents a capacity of 315 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at 50 mA g−1. Impressively, even at 1 A g−1, the MoS2/C electrode still sustained a capacity of 200 mA h g−1 after 5000 cycles, exhibiting excellent electrochemical stability. According to our findings, decomposition occurs when the electrode material comes into contact with the electrolyte, resulting in the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer. In high-concentration electrolytes, a competitive mechanism between anions and ether solvent molecules takes place, with a tendency for preferential decomposition of highly concentrated anions. This behavior triggers the formation of a high-quality KF-rich SEI layer on the electrode interface, further suppressing the decomposition of subsequent electrolytes, which significantly improves the KIB’s electrochemical performance. We believe that this discovery will provide new insights for the development of high-performance KIBs.