Synthesis of heterostructured dual metal sulfides by a high-temperature mixing hydrothermal method as an ultra-high rate anode for Li-ion batteries

In this research, a novel approach is reported to fabricate flower-like Cu₂S/MoS₂ microspheres anchored on graphene (Cu₂S/MoS₂/rGO) by using a high-temperature mixing hydrothermal method (HTMHM). In detail, molybdenum source and copper source precursor solutions are added into a self-made dual-chamber Teflon lined reactor, respectively, and then the Cu₂S/MoS₂/rGO heterostructure is successfully prepared under designed hydrothermal reaction conditions with the aid of an ingenious rotation process. The obtained graphene-wrapped Cu₂S/MoS₂/rGO composites exhibit fast carrier migration, good structural stability, and high Li⁺ accessibility, which leads to a glorious rate performance and cycling durability. The heterostructured Cu₂S/MoS₂/rGO composite shows excellent rate capability (406.6 mA h g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹) and high cycling durability (607.2 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹ with a superior capacity retention of 97.4%). The Cu₂S/MoS₂/rGO composites with good electrochemical performance are able to be used as negative electrodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. This work also offers a novel way to engineer mixed metal sulfides for energy storage application.