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 A 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.