Thin-walled hollow MoS2 microspheres as sulfur hosts for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries

Abstract

The thin-walled hollow MoS2 microsphere was synthesized by a facile released online NH3-blowing during the reduction of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate ((NH4)2MoS4) in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent by hydrazine hydrate at 80℃and investigated electrochemically as sulfur host for lithium sulfur battery. The results show that the as-prepared MoS2 @S electrode delivers an initial specific capacity of as high as 1801 mAh g−1, albeit partly due to the formation of SEI membrane, indicating the modulation of MoS2 on the electrochemical reaction of sulfur when compared with bare sulfur electrode. Moreover, the as-prepared MoS2 @S electrode exhibits excellent cycling stability and good rate capability, corroborating the interaction of MoS2 with lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) due to the severe shuttling effect in lithium sulfur battery, which is further authenticated by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel plot and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. This is anticipated to be a straightforward strategy for the practical implementation of lithium sulfur battery as an alternative to the state-of -the-art lithium ion battery.