In-situ growth of 1T/2H-MoS2 on carbon fiber cloth and the modification of SnS2 nanoparticles: A three-dimensional heterostructure for high-performance flexible lithium-ion batteries

Flexible lithium ion batteries are important for wearable electronic devices. Herein, 1T/2H phase MoS2 nanosheets are grown on carbon fiber cloth, and the ultra-small SnS2 nanoparticles are anchored in the surface of MoS2 nanosheets uniformly. We fabricate the hierarchical nanostructures via a hydrothermal method then water bath process. During in-situ growth of 1T/2H phase MoS2, urea is used as the surfactant and NH4+ (produced by urea and ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate) is acted as insertion guest ions to stabilize 1T phase MoS2. The synergistic effects between MoS2 nanosheets and SnS2 nanoparticles can improve structural stability of the electrode and significant enhance the transport of Li ions and electrons, thereby ameliorate the electrochemical properties. When applied as a binder-free, flexible Li-ion battery anode, it exhibits admirable cycling stability and excellent rate performance. Due to the presence of 1T phase MoS2 and uniform distribution of ultra-small SnS2 nanoparticles on MoS2 nanosheets, the SnS2/MoS2/carbon fiber cloth composites maintain 1294 mA h g−1 when cycling at 100 mA g−1 after 120 cycles. A highly flexible battery based on SnS2/MoS2/carbon fiber cloth and LiCoO2 is fabricated, demonstrating excellent mechanical flexibility and cycling stability.