Strongly surface-bonded MoO2 and N-doped hierarchical carbon nanoplates through interfacial Mo-N-C bonds with superb room/low-temperature Li-storage performance

Abstract

The sluggish ionic migration kinetics and fragile electrode/electrolyte interface bear the primary responsibility for the poor electrochemical performances of the subzero-temperature electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. To surmount these challenges, strongly surface-bonded MoO2 and N-doped hierarchical carbon nanoplates (s-MoO2/N-C) through interfacial Mo-N-C bonds were rationally designed and controllably fabricated by a self-template strategy. In the target sample, the MoO2 nanoparticles wrapped by uniform N-doped carbon films (N-C) are well decorated on a layered carbon matrix, forming a unique shale-like structure. Particularly, the Mo-N-C bonds endow the s-MoO2/N-C with enhanced charge transfer capability and robust electrode/electrolyte interface, thus fast surface-controlled Li-storage kinetics are observed in s-MoO2/N-C. Due to these structural merits, the as-synthesised s-MoO2/N-C demonstrates superb room/low-temperature Li-storage performances. For instance, the reversible capacity of s-MoO2/N-C can reach up to 660.8 mAh g−1 in the 1000th cycle at 1.0 A g−1 at room temperature. Furthermore, such an s-MoO2/N-C electrode also attains high capacities of 703.2, 590.3, 454.8, and 305.2 mAh g−1 at low temperatures of 5, − 10, − 20, and even − 30 °C, respectively.