Chinese hydrangea lantern-like Co₉S₈@MoS₂ composites with enhanced lithium-ion battery properties

Chinese hydrangea lantern-like Co₉S₈@MoS₂ composites are prepared by a facile solvothermal method. Ultra-thin MoS₂ nanosheets as the shells grow tightly and uniformly on the surface of the Co₉S₈ core. Due to their unique hierarchical core-shell structure and novel morphology, the composites show excellent electrochemical performance as the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries. They can deliver reversible discharge capacities of around 1298, 1150, 1089, 1018 and 941 mA h g^-1 at the current densities of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.0 A g^-1, respectively. Moreover, the Co₉S₈@MoS₂ composites can still maintain a discharge capacity of 1048 mA h g^-1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 1.0 A g^-1.