Coaxial electrospinning synthesis hollow Mo2C@C core-shell nanofibers for high-performance and long-term lithium-ion batteries.

Graphical abstract A simple electrospinning approach has been developed to fabricate the Mo 2 C@C core-shell nanofibers, which significantly improves the structural stability and conductivity, exhibit excellent cycling and rate performance as anode of lithium-ion batteries. Highlights • Hollow Mo 2 C@C core-shell nanofibers have been synthesized via an coaxial electrospinning. • The hollow Mo 2 C@C composites can enhance the performance during the alloying reactions. • The obtained nonofibers exhibit excellent rate capability and cycle stability. Abstract Hollow Mo 2 C@C core-shell nanofibers (H-Mo 2 C@C/NFs) have been successfully synthesized via an integrated procedure including coaxial electrospinning, oil extraction and carbonization. As an anode of lithium-ion batteries, H-Mo 2 C@C/NFs delivers high discharge capacity of 1176.3 mA h g−1 in the first cycle at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 and exhibits good rate capability and reversibility. The capacity can maintain at 595.1 mA h g−1 even when the current density is up to 5 A g−1. In addition, at a high current density of 1 A g−1, H-Mo 2 C@C/NFs also displays extraordinary long-term cycling performance with a capacity of 674.4 mA h g−1. The excellent rate performance and cycling stability result from the synergistic effect of Mo 2 C nanoparticles and hollow structure nanofiber matrix. Coaxial electrospinning technology can be widely extended to manufacture other metal carbide/carbon composites to achieve important energy storage and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]