Vertically Aligned Mos2 Nanosheets on Monodisperse Mxene as Electrolyte-Philic Cathode for High-Performance Zinc Ion Battery

Abstract

The high safe and environment-friendly aqueous Zn ionic batteries (ZIBs) with considerable theoretical capacities have attracted extensive attention. Due to its unique two-dimensional layered structure and high theoretical specific capacity, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) present promising applications in cathode materials for ZIBs. Nevertheless, the inherent low electrical conductivity and poor hydrophilicity of MoS2 limit its wide application in ZIBs. In this work, MoS2/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites were effectively constructed by two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets vertically grown on monodisperse Ti3C2Tx MXene layers by a one-step hydrothermal method. Contributing to the higher ionic conductivity and good hydrophilicity of Ti3C2Tx, MoS2/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites possessed the improved electrolyte-philic and conductive properties, resulting in the reduced volume expansion effect of MoS2 with accelerated Zn2+ reaction kinetics. As a result, MoS2/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites exhibited high voltage (1.6 V) and excellent discharge specific capacity with 247.2 mAh g–1 at 0.1 A g–1 and cycle stability as cathode material for ZIBs. This work provides an effective strategy for the development of cathode materials with high specific capacity and stable structure.

Keywords: MXene, MoS2, Electrolyte-Philic Cathode, Zinc Ion Battery