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MoSand MoOloaded Carbon Microfibers As Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries

Wednesday, 16 May 2018
Ballroom 6ABC (Washington State Convention Center)
A. Valdez (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), L. Zuniga (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), J. Villarreal (UTRGV), and M. Alcoutlabi (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)
We present results on the Forcespinning (FS) of MoS2/PAN and MoO2/PAN solution precursors for the mass production of MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fibers for use as binder-free and freestanding anodes for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The binary composite microfiber electrodes were prepared using a scalable technique (FS) and subsequent thermal treatment. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of the composite microfibers showed nanoparticles of the MoS2 and MoO2 active materials embedded in the surface of the fibers. The composite microfiber preparation process involved FS of the MoS2/PAN and MoO2/C solution precursors into microfibers and subsequent stabilization in air at 280oC and calcination at 700oC for MoO2/C and 810oC for MoS2/C under an inert atmosphere. The flexible composite microfibers were directly used as working electrode in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries without a current collector, conducting additives, or binder. The MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fiber electrodes delivered a good electrochemical performance and Coulombic efficiency when used for lithium-ion batteries. The MoS2/C electrodes delivered an initial discharge (insertion) capacity of 650 mAhg-1, with a corresponding charge capacity of 425 mAhg-1 at a current density of 100 mAg-1. In the subsequent cycles, the MoS2/C electrodes stabilize at about 50 cycles and maintain a stable specific capacity of about 245 mAhg-1, in the last 5 cycles there is slight recovery with a final specific capacity of 255 mAhg-1. The MoO2/C composite anode delivered a reversible capacity of 356 mAhg-1 at 100 mAg-1, stabilizing at 245 mAhg-1 after 100 cycles. The results presented in this work showed that the MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fibers have good reversible capacity, good capacity retention and acceptable rate performance when used as anode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.