MoS Nanoflower-Derived Interconnected CoMoO Nanoarchitectures as a Stable and High Rate Performing Anode for Lithium-Ion Battery Applications.

In recent years, conversion-based mixed transition-metal oxides have emerged as a potential anode for the next generation lithium-ion batteries because of their high theoretical capacity and high rate performance. Herein, an interconnected cobalt molybdenum oxide (CoMoO) nanoarchitecture derived from molybdenum sulfide (MoS) nanoflowers is investigated as an anode for lithium-ion batteries. The interconnected CoMoO displayed an excellent discharge capacity of 1100 mA h g over 100 cycles at a current rate of C/5. Moreover, the material exhibited an enhanced electrochemical stability, high rate performance, and delivered high discharge capacities of 600 and 220 mA h g, respectively, at 5 C and 10 C after 500 cycles. The excellent cycling stability and high rate performance of interconnected CoMoO are credited to its unique architecture and porous morphology. The above characteristics and the synergetic effect between the constituting metal ions not only provided a shorter diffusion path for the lithium-ion conduction but also improved the electronic conductivity and mechanical strength of the anode. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy analysis of the electrochemically cycled electrode revealed good structural integrity of the electrode. Further, the practical feasibility of interconnected CoMoO in the full cell was analyzed by integrating it with the LiNiMnCoO cathode, which demonstrated excellent cycling stability and high rate performance.