MoS2/C nanotubes synthesized using halloysite as template through one-pot hydrothermal method for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

One-dimension MoS2/carbon (MoS2/C) with expended interlayer spacing of MoS2 has been proposed as a promising strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of MoS2 materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Surface etched or functionalized carbon nanotubes/fibers are usually used as carriers or hosts for MoS2/C in preparing 1 D MoS2/C materials. However, the widespread adoption is hindered by the expensive carbon nanotubes/fibers and the tedious preparation process. Herein, low-cost natural halloysite was introduced as a template in synthesizing MoS2/C nanotube (NT-MoS2/C) with expended interlayer spacing through one-pot hydrothermal method. The tubular structure, larger specific surface area (43.81 m2/g) and larger mesopore volume (0.16 cm3 g−1, Vmes/Vtotal = 72.45 %) of NT-MoS2/C have been obtained with halloysite as template compared to NP-MoS2/C (without using halloysite as template) and NC-H@MoS2/C (without removal of halloysite template). When used as lithium storage electrodes, the rate performance and cycling stability of NT-MoS2/C have been significantly improved over NP-MoS2/C and NC-H@MoS2/C by the constructed tubular structure. The lithium storage electrochemical performance of MoS2/C with expended interlayer spacing can be further improved by tubular structure constructed with natural halloysite as template. This strategy is expected to offer a pathway towards the scalable application of MoS2/C materials in next-generation LIBs technology.