Vertical 1T-MoS₂ nanosheets with expanded interlayer spacing edged on a graphene frame for high rate lithium-ion batteries

Vertical 1T-MoS₂ nanosheets with an expanded interlayer spacing of 9.8 Å were successfully grown on a graphene surface via a one-step solvothermal method. Such unique hybridized structures provided strong electrical and chemical coupling between the vertical nanosheets and graphene layers by means of C-O-Mo bonding. The merits are very beneficial for a high-efficiency electron/ion transport pathway and structural stability. As a proof of concept, the lithium ion battery with the as-obtained hybrid's electrode exhibited excellent rate performance with a 666 mA h g^-1 capacity at a high current density of 3500 mA g^-1. We can extend this method to produce various metallic 1T-MX₂ (M = transition metal; X = chalcogen) vertically edged on a graphene frame as one of the promising hetero-structures for several specific applications in the fields of electronics, optics and catalysis.