Laser-Triggered High Graphitization of Mo₂C@C: High Rate Performance and Excellent Cycling Stability as Anode of Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Fast electron/ion transport and cycling stability of anode materials are key factors for achieving a high rate performance of battery materials. Herein, we successfully fabricated a carbon-coated Mo 2 C nanofiber (denoted as laser Mo 2 C@C) as the lithium ion battery anode material by laser carbonization of PAN–PMo 12 (PAN = Polyacrylonitrile; PMo 12 = H 3 PMo 12 O 40 ). The highly graphitized carbon layer in laser Mo 2 C@C effectively protects Mo 2 C from agglomeration and flaking while facilitating electron transfer. As such, the laser Mo 2 C@C electrode displays an excellent electrochemical stability under 5 A g –1, with a capacity up to 300 mA h g –1 after 3000 cycles. Furthermore, the extended X-ray absorption fine structure results show the existence of some Mo vacancies in Mo 2 C@C. Density functional theory calculations further prove that such vacancies make the defective Mo 2 C@C composites energetically more favorable for lithium storage in comparison with the intact Mo 2 C.