Morphology-controlled synthesis of MoS2 nanostructures with different lithium storage properties

A one-step hydrothermal process was employed to prepare a series of MoS2 nanostructures via simply altering the surfactant as soft template and hydrothermal reaction temperature. Three kinds of MoS2 nanostructures (three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanospheres, one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons, and large aggregated nanoparticles) were successfully achieved and investigated well by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). Electrochemical tests reveal that these MoS2 samples could deliver high initial discharge capacities (higher than 1050.0 mA h g−1), but various cycling performances. The hierarchical MoS2 nanospheres assembled by sheet-like subunits show the highest specific capacity of 1355.1 mA h g−1, and 66.8% of which can be retained after 50 cycles. The good lithium storage property of hierarchical MoS2 nanospheres can be attributed to the higher electrolyte/MoS2 contact area and stable 3D layered structure.