W2C/WS2 Alloy Nanoflowers as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Storage

Abstract

Recently, composites of MXenes and two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have emerged as promising materials for energy storage applications. In this study, W2C/WS2 alloy nanoflowers (NFs) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The alloy NFs showed a particle size of 200 nm–1 μm, which could be controlled. The electrochemical performance of the as-prepared alloy NFs was investigated to evaluate their potential for application as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes. The incorporation of W2C in the WS2 NFs improved their electronic properties. Among them, the W2C/WS2_4h NF electrode showed the best electrochemical performance with an initial discharge capacity of 1040 mAh g−1 and excellent cyclability corresponding to a reversible capacity of 500 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles compared to that of the pure WS2 NF electrode. Therefore, the incorporation of W2C is a promising approach to improve the performance of LIB anode materials.