One-Step Construction of MoS_0.74Se_1.26/N-Doped Carbon Flower-like Hierarchical Microspheres with Enhanced Sodium Storage

Despite the fulfilling advancement in preparing two-dimensional (2D) layered transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD)-based hybrid architectures, most methods lie on additional template-based procedures for obtaining the expected structure. Here, we present a self-template and in situ synchronous selenization/vulcanization strategy for the synthesis of flower-like hierarchical MoS0.74Se1.26/N-doped carbon (MoS0.74Se1.26/NC) microspheres by morphology-preserved thermal transformation of a Mo–polydopamine precursor. Introducing element S into the MoSe2 crystal structure can enhance the electron and ion transportation and lift the ability of MoSe2 to store Na+; the presence of Se can expand the interlayer spacing in contrast to MoS2. Moreover, carbon composition can also favor the electrical conductivity, and the rigid micro/nanostructure is better for preventing the stacking of MoS0.74Se1.26 nanoflakes. The Mo–polydopamine-derived MoS0.74Se1.26/NC hybrid exhibits much better performance as the sodium-ion battery (SIB) anode than MoS2/NC and MoSe2/NC counterparts, confirming that the advanced electrode material can be attained via the rationalization of the synthetic method. The work provides a new design configuration for novel 2D layered TMDs in the promising application of SIBs as anode materials.