Constructing MoS2-based cathode materials for zinc ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have advantages of high safety, friendly environment, low cost, and can be applied to large-scale energy storage. To prepare high-performance cathode materials easily and quickly is still one of the development directions. Based on the principle that two-dimensional layered materials can be thinned layer-by-layer via mechanical force, the molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based cathodes are prepared by one-step ball milling. The shear force and shockwave generated during ball milling effectively promote the preparation of MoS2/V2O5 cathode materials. X-ray diffraction, Raman, and infrared tests confirm the presence of both MoS2 and V2O5 components in the prepared MoS2/V2O5. The presence of metallic phase 1T-MoS2 in the MoS2/V2O5 is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Via a charging conversion mechanism, the obtained MoO3/V2O5 cathode has a high capacity of 417.4 mAh g−1, good rate performance (83.6 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), high energy and power densities (83.6 Wh kg−1 at 10,032 W kg−1). This study provides a new idea for constructing two-dimensional material-based cathodes by ball milling.