Engineering Ag nanoparticles and amorphous MoO_x on three dimensional N-doped carbon networks for enhanced lithium...

Molybdenum-based oxides have been widely investigated as promising material for lithium ion batteries owing to their unique physical and chemical properties as well as the large specific capacities. However, the fast capacity fading and poor cyclability originated from the large volume expansion and the sluggish electrode kinetics still inhibit their practical application. Herein, Ag nanoparticles combined with amorphous MoO_x-in-plane nanoconfined on three dimensional N-doped porous carbon networks (3DNC) are designed and synthesized through salt-template strategy accompanied by annealing treatment and hydrothermal method (3DNC-MoO_x-Ag). The synergistic effect of Ag nanoparticles and amorphous MoO_x can inhibit the "dead volume" and aggregation of the electrode, accommodate the volume change, accelerate the diffusion kinetics during the lithium ion intercalation and de-intercalation processes. As a result, the designed 3DNC-MoO_x-Ag delivers prominent cycling stability (834 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g^-1) and excellent rate performance (419 mAh g^-1 after 70 cycles at 5000 mA g^-1). Even at 5000 mA g^-1, a specific capacity as high as 369 mAh g^-1 can be achieved after 500 cycles.