MoS2 nanoplates assembled on electrospun polyacrylonitrile-metal organic framework-derived carbon fibers for lithium storage

Highlights: • Ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets are assembled on electrospun polyacrylonitrile-MOF-derived porous carbon nanofibers. • Effects of structure and component on the electrochemical performances of PCNF@MoS₂ have been investigated. • The PCNF@MoS₂ composites show enhanced lithium storage and cycling performance when applied as anode material for LIBs. -- Abstract: Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been intensively investigated for its high theoretical capacity as an advanced anode material for lithium storage. However, the low electronic conductivity and frail layered structure give rise to its poor cycling stability and low rate performance. Herein, by taking advantages of the porous structure and the high N content of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derivatives, a facile and scalable method combining electrospinning and following a hydrothermal process was developed to fabricate MoS₂-based composite fibers, in which ultrathin MoS₂ nanoplates were vertically assembled on the polyacrylonitrile-MOF-derived N-doped porous carbon nanofibers (PCNF). As expected, benefiting from the hierarchical structure of PCNF and the synergies between MoS₂ and PCNF, the obtained PCNF@MoS₂ exhibited high capacity and cycling performance in a lithium battery.