MoS2 microsphere@ N-doped carbon composites as high performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract MoS2/carbon- based anode materials have recently been widely used as an anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, MoS2/carbon-based anode materials suffer from poor electrical conductivity and cycle performance which limit their application. Here, we present a novel MoS2 microsphere@ N-doped carbon composites as anode in LIBs. This unique core shell structure is composed of MoS2 microsphere and metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived N-doped carbon. N-doped carbon was highly dispersed and uniformly coated on the surface of MoS2 microspheres. The N-doped carbon derived from ZIF-8 can remarkably enhance the structure stability and thus effectively improve the cycle stability of MoS2. The MoS2 microsphere@ N-doped carbon composite electrodes show a high reversible capacity of 715 mA h·g−1 at 100 mA·g−1 after 50 cycles with excellent cycling stability and rate performance. Meanwhile, higher content of N-doped carbon in MoS2 microsphere@ N-doped carbon composites is beneficial to their electrochemical performance.