Interlayer Expanded MoS₂/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Hydrangea Nanoflowers Assembled on Nitrogen-Doped Three-Dimensional Graphene for High-Performance Lithium and Sodium Storage

A combination of optimization methods has been developed to help compensate for the weak points of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), including poor electronic conductivity and large volume expansion, for better exhibiting its advantages such as high capacity and stability in the fields of lithium/sodium-ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs). In the study, nitrogen-doped three-dimensional graphene supporting MoS2 hydrangea nanoflowers with a nitrogen-doped carbon intercalation (MoS2/NC@N3DG) hierarchical composite has been designed and prepared in a simple one-step hydrothermal and annealing way. The distinctly expanded spacing between MoS2 interlayers can facilitate the ion diffusion and the doped nitrogen atoms can markedly improve the electronic conductivity. Therefore, the MoS2/NC@N3DG composite electrode shows outstanding rate capability and excellent cycling performance for both LIBs (1497/1300 mA h g–1 at 0.2/1 A g–1 after 200/500 cycles) and SIBs (513/364 mA h g–1 at 0.2/1 A g–1 after 200/500 cycles). This work provides a promising scheme for designing advanced two-dimensional layered metal dichalcogenide materials for high-performance LIBs and SIBs.