Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of MoS2 nanostructures with different lithium storage properties

MoS2 nanomaterials with different morphologies such as nanoplates, nanowalls, and 3D microspheres composed of ultrathin nanoflakes were synthesized via a simple solid-phase reaction process. The structure and morphology of these samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). The electrochemical test behavior of the asprepared MoS2 nanostructure electrodes were also investigated and the results indicated that the 3D MoS2 microsphere electrode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 850.9 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) after 50 cycles, which displays higher specific capacity and cycling stability than other as-prepared samples. Moreover, the reversible capacity for the 3D MoS2 microspheres can still be maintained at 783.5 mA g(-1) at 800 mA g(-1). The enhanced electrochemical performance of the 3D MoS2 microspheres could be attributed to their spherical structure, the ultrathin nanoflakes, high specific surface area and their unique layered structure.