Revealing 1T-MoS2 with 76 % purity induced by various saccharides for supercapacitor performance

Abstract

The preparation of metallic phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS2) through an implementable method has become a top priority in research due to its excellent electrochemical performance. In this study, 1T-MoS2 using a facile one-pot hydrothermal method is successfully synthesized by incorporating saccharides. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the synthesis mechanism is induced by various saccharides. Glucose, a monosaccharide, not only possesses reducibility but also plays a crucial role in preparation of sulfur vacancies. Maltose is a disaccharide that can hydrolyze into glucose and fructose, both of which exhibit reducibility. On the contrary, dextrin is difficult to break down into fructose or glucose, and faces certain challenges in promoting the formation of 1T-MoS2. Importantly, 1T-MoS2 with 76 % purity obtained in our study exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance, demonstrating a high specific capacitance of 228.4 F g−1 at 2 A g−1 and maintaining a cycling stability of 97 % after 10,000 cycles. Furthermore, an asymmetric flexible supercapacitor device is assembled by 1T-MoS2 and active carbon on carbon cloths, which shows superior flexibility, high power density, and energy density. Notably, this work not only unveils the mechanism by which saccharides influence the synthesis of 1T-MoS2 but also provides support for the preparation of other metallic members in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family.