Rational Design of Three-Layered TiO @Carbon@MoS Hierarchical Nanotubes for Enhanced Lithium Storage.

Here we demonstrate the rational design and synthesis of three-layered TiO @carbon@MoS hierarchical nanotubes for anode applications in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Through an efficient step-by-step strategy, ultrathin MoS nanosheets are grown on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) coated TiO nanotubes to achieve the TiO @NC@MoS tubular nanostructures. This smart design can effectively shorten the diffusion length of Li ions, increase electric conductivity of the electrode, relax volume variation of electrode materials upon cycling, and provide more active sites for electrochemical reactions. Owing to these structural and compositional features, the hierarchical TiO @NC@MoS nanotubes manifest remarkable lithium storage performance with good rate capability and long cycle life.