Controllable Design of MoS2 Nanosheets Grown on Nitrogen-Doped Branched TiO2 /C Nanofibers: Toward Enhanced Sodium Storage Performance Induced by Pseudocapacitance Behavior

Heterogeneous MoS2 Nanosheets on Porous TiO2 Nanofibers toward Fast and Reversible Sodium-Ion Storage

2D layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has garnered considerable attention as an attractive electrode material in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but sluggish mass transfer kinetic and capacity fading make it suffer from inferior cycle capability. Herein, hierarchical MoS2 nanosheets decorated porous TiO2 nanofibers (MoS2 NSs@TiO2 NFs) with rich oxygen vacancies are engineered by microemulsion electrospinning method and subsequent hydrothermal/heat treatment. The MoS2 NSs@TiO2 NFs improves ion/electron transport kinetic and long-term cycling performance through distinctive porous structure and heterogeneous component. Consequently, the electrode exhibits excellent long-term Na storage capacity (298.4 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 over 1100 cycles and 235.6 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 over 7200 cycles). Employing Na3V2(PO4)3 as cathode, the full cell maintains a desirable capacity of 269.6 mAh g-1 over 700 cycles at 1.0 A g-1. The stepwise intercalation-conversion and insertion/extraction endows outstanding Na+ storage performance, which yields valuable insight into the advancement of fast-charging and long-cycle life SIBs anode materials.

High Flux and Stability of Cationic Intercalation in Transition-Metal Oxides: Unleashing the Potential of Mn t2g Orbital via Enhanced π-Donation

Transition-metal oxides (TMOs) often struggle with challenges related to low electronic conductivity and unsatisfactory cyclic stability toward cationic intercalation. In this work, we tackle these issues by exploring an innovative strategy: leveraging heightened π-donation to activate the t2g orbital, thereby enhancing both electron/ion conductivity and structural stability of TMOs. We engineered Ni-doped layered manganese dioxide (Ni-MnO2), which is characterized by a distinctive Ni-O-Mn bridging configuration. Remarkably, Ni-MnO2 presents an impressive capacitance of 317 F g-1 and exhibits a robust cyclic stability, maintaining 81.58% of its original capacity even after 20,000 cycles. Mechanism investigations reveal that the incorporation of Ni-O-Mn configurations stimulates a heightened π-donation effect, which is beneficial to the π-type orbital hybridization involving the O 2p and the t2g orbital of Mn, thereby accelerating charge-transfer kinetics and activating the redox capacity of the t2g orbital. Additionally, the charge redistribution from Ni to the t2g orbital of Mn effectively elevates the low-energy orbital level of Mn, thus mitigating the undesirable Jahn-Teller distortion. This results in a subsequent decrease in the electron occupancy of the π*-antibonding orbital, which promotes an overall enhancement in structural stability. Our findings pave the way for an innovative paradigm in the development of fast and stable electrode materials for intercalation energy storage by activating the low orbitals of the TM center from a molecular orbital perspective.

Recent Advancements in Chalcogenides for Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications

Energy storage has become increasingly important as a study area in recent decades. A growing number of academics are focusing their attention on developing and researching innovative materials for use in energy storage systems to promote sustainable development goals. This is due to the finite supply of traditional energy sources, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, and escalating regional tensions. Because of these issues, sustainable renewable energy sources have been touted as an alternative to nonrenewable fuels. Deployment of renewable energy sources requires efficient and reliable energy storage devices due to their intermittent nature. High-performance electrochemical energy storage technologies with high power and energy densities are heralded to be the next-generation storage devices. Transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) have sparked interest among electrode materials because of their intriguing electrochemical properties. Researchers have revealed a variety of modifications to improve their electrochemical performance in energy storage. However, a stronger link between the type of change and the resulting electrochemical performance is still desired. This review examines the synthesis of chalcogenides for electrochemical energy storage devices, their limitations, and the importance of the modification method, followed by a detailed discussion of several modification procedures and how they have helped to improve their electrochemical performance. We also discussed chalcogenides and their composites in batteries and supercapacitors applications. Furthermore, this review discusses the subject’s current challenges as well as potential future opportunities.

Reduced Graphene-Oxide-Encapsulated MoS2/Carbon Nanofiber Composite Electrode for High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been increasingly studied due to sodium (Na) being an inexpensive ionic resource (Na) and their battery chemistry being similar to that of current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, SIBs have faced substantial challenges in developing high-performance anode materials that can reversibly store Na⁺ in the host structure. To address these challenges, molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂)-based active materials have been considered as promising anodes, owing to the two-dimensional layered structure of MoS₂ for stably (de)inserting Na⁺. Nevertheless, intrinsic issues of MoS₂—such as low electronic conductivity and the loss of active S elements after a conversion reaction—have limited the viability of MoS₂ in practical SIBs. Here, we report MoS₂ embedded in carbon nanofibers encapsulated with a reduced graphene oxide (MoS₂@CNFs@rGO) composite for SIB anodes. The MoS₂@CNFs@rGO delivered a high capacity of 345.8 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹ for 90 cycles. The CNFs and rGO were synergistically taken into account for providing rapid pathways for electrons and preventing the dissolution of S sources during repetitive conversion reactions. This work offers a new point of view to realize MoS₂-based anode materials in practical SIBs.

Transition metal sulfides meet electrospinning: versatile synthesis, distinct properties and prospective applications

One-dimensional (1D) electrospun nanomaterials have attracted significant attention due to their unique structures and outstanding chemical and physical properties such as large specific surface area, distinct electronic and mass transport, and mechanical flexibility. Over the past years, the integration of metal sulfides with electrospun nanomaterials has emerged as an exciting research topic owing to the synergistic effects between the two components, leading to novel and interesting properties in energy, optics and catalysis research fields for example. In this review, we focus on the recent development of the preparation of electrospun nanomaterials integrated with functional metal sulfides with distinct nanostructures. These functional materials have been prepared via two efficient strategies, namely direct electrospinning and post-synthesis modification of electrospun nanomaterials. In this review, we systematically present the chemical and physical properties of the electrospun nanomaterials integrated with metal sulfides and their application in electronic and optoelectronic devices, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, thermal shielding, adsorption and separation, and biomedical technology. Additionally, challenges and further research opportunities in the preparation and application of these novel functional materials are also discussed.

MoS2 encapsulated in three-dimensional hollow carbon frameworks for stable anode of sodium ion batteries

MoS₂ wrapped in nitrogen-doped three-dimensional hollow carbon frameworks is designed for improved sodium ion battery anode performance.

Immobilizing Polysulfide by In Situ Topochemical Oxidation Derivative TiC@Carbon-Included TiO2 Core-Shell Sulfur Hosts for Advanced Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is greatly hindered by the notorious shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). To address this issue, in situ topochemical oxidation derivative TiC@carbon-included TiO₂ (TiC@C-TiO₂ ) core-shell composite is designed and proposed as a multifunctional sulfur host, which integrates the merits of conductive TiC core to facilitate the redox reaction kinetics of sulfur species, and porous C-TiO₂ shell to suppress the dissolution and shuttling of LiPSs through chemisorption. A unique dual chemical mediation mechanism is demonstrated for the proposed TiC@C-TiO₂ composite that synergistically entraps LiPSs through thiosulfate/polythionate conversion coupled with strong polar-polar interaction. The morphological characterization reveals that the TiC@C-TiO₂ -based cathode can well regulate the distribution of electrode materials to retard their accumulation inside the electrode, ensuring effective contact between the active materials and electrolyte. Based on its unique function and structure, the cathode delivers an improved capacity of 1256 mAh g^-1 at 0.2C, a remarkable rate capability of 643 mAh g^-1 , and an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.065% per cycle at 2C over 900 cycles. This work not only demonstrates a dual chemical mediation mechanism to immobilize LiPSs, but also provides a universal strategy to construct multifunctional sulfur hosts for advanced Li-S batteries.

All-in-One MoS2 Nanosheets Tailored by Porous Nitrogen-Doped Graphene for Fast and Highly Reversible Sodium Storage

Though being a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), MoS₂ with high theoretical capacity shows poor rate capability and rapid capacity decay, especially involving the conversion of MoS₂ to Mo metal and Na₂S. Here, we report all-in-one MoS₂ nanosheets tailored by porous nitrogen-doped graphene (N-RGO) for the first time to achieve superior structural stability and high cycling reversibility of MoS₂ in SIBs. The all-in-one MoS₂ nanosheets possess desirable structural characteristics by admirably rolling up all good qualities into one, including vertical alignment, an ultrathin layer, vacancy defects, and expanded layer spacing. Thus, the all-in-one MoS₂@N-RGO composite anode exhibits an improvement in the charge transport kinetics and availability of active materials in SIBs, resulting in outstanding cycling and rate performance. More importantly, the restricted growth of all-in-one MoS₂ by the porous N-RGO via a strong coupling effect dramatically improves the cycling reversibility of conversion reaction. Consequently, the all-in-one MoS₂@N-RGO composite anode demonstrates excellent reversible capacity, outstanding rate capability, and superior cycling stability. This study strongly suggests that the all-in-one MoS₂@N-RGO has great potential for practical application in high-performance SIBs.