Molecular self-assembly assisted synthesis of carbon nanoparticle-anchored MoS2 nanosheets for high-performance supercapacitors

Abstract In this work, carbon nanoparticle-anchored MoS 2 nanosheets are synthesized by a supramolecular self-assembly method, through which β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) are combined with l -cysteine by the hydrogen bond and the electrostatic interaction in the aqueous solution, which are then carbonized to carbon nanoparticles and anchored on the surface of MoS 2 nanosheets during the hydrothermal process. The carbon nanoparticles anchored on MoS 2 nanosheets effectively inhibit the aggregation and restacking of MoS 2 , and then enhance the electrical conductivity of the composite. The superior electrochemical performance is exhibited through cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge, including a high specific capacitance of 394.2 F g −1 at the scan rate of 5 mV s −1 and a high rate retention ratio of 63.3% when the scan rate increases from 5 to 200 mV s −1 . The remarkable performance is mainly attributed to the better electrical conductivity and the higher rates of electron migration and ion transport, making the carbon nanoparticle-anchored MoS 2 nanosheets a potential candidate material for advanced energy storage systems.