Mesoporous transition metal dichalcogenide ME2 (M = Mo, W; E = S, Se) with 2-D layered crystallinity as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Mesoporous transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), composed of group VI metals (Mo and W) and chalcogens (S and Se), with 2-D layered crystalline frameworks and 3-D pore structures were successfully prepared via a melting-infiltration assisted nano-replication method using a mesoporous template KIT-6 with cubic Ia3d symmetry. Combined analysis using X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption-desorption and electron microscopy indicated that the mesoporous TMDCs, thus obtained, exhibited high surface areas (87-105 m(2) g(-1)), large pore volumes (0.21-0.25 cm(3) g(-1)) and well-defined mesopores about 20 nm in diameters. The mesoporous TMDCs showed outstanding rate capabilities up to 2C as well as high reversible lithium storage capacities (MoS2 710 mA h g(-1); MoSe2 744 mA h g(-1); WS2 501 mA h g(-1); WSe2 427 mA h g(-1)) without a remarkable fading of capacity.