Engineering Phase Transition from 2H to 1T in MoSe₂ by W Cluster Doping toward Lithium-Ion Battery

Phase engineering synthesis strategy is extremely challenging to achieve stable metallic phase molybdenum diselenide for a better physicochemical property than the thermodynamically stable semiconducting phase. Herein, we introduce tungsten atom clusters into the MoSe₂ layered structure, realizing the phase transition from the 2H semiconductor to 1T metallic phase at a high temperature. The combination of synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Cs-corrected transmission electron microscopy, and theoretical calculation demonstrates that the aggregation doping of W atoms is the factor of MoSe₂ structure transformation. When utilizing this distinct structure as an anode component, it demonstrates outstanding rate capability and durability. After 500 cycles, this results in a specific capacity of 1007.4 mAh g^-1 at 500 mA g^-1. These discoveries could open the door for the future development of high-performance anodes for ion battery applications.