Layered g-C3N4/MoS2 Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Storage

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) emerges as a promising candidate for energy storage applications owing to its outstanding physical and electrochemical characteristics. However, at elevated current densities, the active sites within MoS₂ tend to aggregate, which diminishes their functionality. This aggregation reduces the capacity for Li⁺ intercalation and contributes to suboptimal rate performance. Herein, MoS₂ with extended layer spacing is constructed using an interstitial carbon strategy and is effectively complexed with nitrogen-rich carbon (g-C₃N₄). By alternately stacking MoS₂ and g-C₃N₄ to form a nanoscale layered heterostructure, the interface area between the active material and the buffer layer is greatly increased. This configuration effectively reduces the loss of active material caused by MoS₂ crushing and improves its low intrinsic conductivity. In addition, the prepared g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ composites have abundant N-active sites and mesoporous structures, which greatly improve the lithium storage performance. Electrochemical tests reveal that the g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ electrode achieves a specific capacity of 1616 mAh g^–1 after 300 cycles at 0.1 A g^–1, and 1350 mAh g^–1 after 1000 cycles at 0.5 A g^–1. The electrode demonstrates remarkable cycling stability and exceptional rate performance. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the rational design of the nanoscale heterostructure. These results surpass those of most MoS₂-based anode materials reported in the literature.