In-situ construction of interconnected N-doped porous carbon-carbon nanotubes networks derived from melamine anchored with MoS2 for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) interconnected N-doped porous carbon-carbon nanotubes networks derived from melamine anchored with MoS2 (MoS2/NPC-NCNTs) composite is successfully synthesized through a simple two-step method. The NPC-NCNTs hybrid is fabricated via simultaneous in-situ carbonization and catalytic growth using melamine formaldehyde polymer as the carbon and nitrogen precursors and SiO2 nanoparticles as the mesoporous template. MoS2 nanoflowers are anchored into the NPC-NCNTs by a hydrothermal method. In the composite, the NPC and NCNTs are entwined and interconnected each other, as a reinforced concrete structure to form a robust skeleton and an excellent 3D conductive network; MoS2 nanoflowers consisting of several nanosheets are closely incorporated with the NPC-NCNTs hybrid. Benefiting from the unique features such as abundant porosity, enhanced electrical conductivity and superb buffering capability, the MoS2/NPC-NCNTs composite electrode delivers a high specific capacity (1218.7 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1), a superior rate capability (452.2 mA h g−1 at 4000 mA g−1) and an excellent cyclic stability (capacity retention of 526.1 mA h g−1 after 400 cycles at 1000 mA g−1).