Carbon-based coating containing ultrafine MoO2 nanoparticles as an integrated anode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Copper-supported MoO2-C composite as an integrated anode with excellent battery performance was synthesized by a facile knife coating technique followed by heat treatment in a vacuum. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption and desorption analysis, field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show the MoO2-C composite coating is comprised of a porous carbon matrix with a pore size of 1–3 nm and ultrafine MoO2 nanoparticles with a size of 5–10 nm encapsulated inside, the coating is tightly attached on the surface of copper foil, and the interface between them is free of cracks. Stable PAN-DMF-H2O system containing ammonium molybdate suitable for knife coating technique and the MoO2-C composite with ultrafine MoO2 nanoparticles encapsulated in the carbon matrix can be prepared through controlling amount of added ammonium molybdate solution. The copper-supported MoO2-C composite coating can be directly utilized as the integrated anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It delivers a capacity of 814 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles without apparent capacity fading. Furthermore, with increase of current densities to 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 mA g−1, it exhibits average capacities of 809, 697, 568, 383, and 188 mA h g−1. Its outstanding electrochemical performance is attributed to combined merits of integrated anode and structure with ultrafine MoO2 nanoparticles embedded in the porous carbon matrix.