Morphology-controlled synthesis of MoS₂ nanostructures with different lithium storage properties

Highlights: • MoS₂ nanospheres, nanoribbons and nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method. • The surfactant and temperature control the shape and crystal structure of MoS₂. • MoS₂ nanospheres exhibit the excellent lithium storage property. - Abstract: A one-step hydrothermal process was employed to prepare a series of MoS₂ nanostructures via simply altering the surfactant as soft template and hydrothermal reaction temperature. Three kinds of MoS₂ nanostructures (three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanospheres, one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons, and large aggregated nanoparticles) were successfully achieved and investigated well by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET). Electrochemical tests reveal that these MoS₂ samples could deliver high initial discharge capacities (higher than 1050.0 mA h g⁻¹), but various cycling performances. The hierarchical MoS₂ nanospheres assembled by sheet-like subunits show the highest specific capacity of 1355.1 mA h g⁻¹, and 66.8% of which can be retained after 50 cycles. The good lithium storage property of hierarchical MoS₂ nanospheres can be attributed to the higher electrolyte/MoS₂ contact area and stable 3D layered structure