Few-layered MoS₂/C with expanding d-spacing as a high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) show great potential as alternative energy storage devices for next generation energy storage systems due to the deficiency of lithium resources. MoS₂ is a promising anode material for SIBs due to its high theoretical sodium storage capability and large interspace for accommodating sodium ions with a larger ionic radius than lithium ions. However, bulk MoS₂ exhibits a sluggish kinetics for the intercalation-deintercalation of sodium ions and large volume expansion, which result in poor cyclability and rate performance. In this study, we designed few-layered MoS₂/C nanoflowers with expanded interspacing of MoS₂-MoS₂ planes using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an intercalating reagent and a carbon precursor. Due to the unique nanostructure and larger interlayer spacing, the MoS₂/C nanoflower electrode achieves a high reversible specific capacity of 400 mA h g^-1 after 300 cycles at 500 mA g^-1 for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), showing a good cycling stability. The improved electrochemical performance suggests that the MoS₂/C composite is a promising anode material for sodium ion storage.