Synthesis of core-shell TiO2@MoS2 composites for lithium-ion battery anodes

Core-shell composites of TiO2 nanospheres equipped with MoS2 nanosheets (TiO2@MoS2) were synthesized in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide through a facile hydrothermal method, which was followed by annealing process in an atmosphere of 2% H2 balanced by Ar. The TiO2@MoS2 composites exhibited higher electrochemical performance than pure MoS2 nanosheets, and showed a reversible capacity of 467 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 80 cycles with highly stable capacity retention. This good performance may be attributed to the dispersed MoS2 layer, which accelerates the surface electrochemical reactions and offers a stable structure, and the TiO2 sphere, which serves as a stabilizer to retain the MoS2 structure upon prolonged cycling. The core-shell composites can be a promising candidate for use in lithium-ion batteries.