W(2)C/WS(2) Alloy Nanoflowers as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Storage

Recently, composites of MXenes and two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have emerged as promising materials for energy storage applications. In this study, W(2)C/WS(2) alloy nanoflowers (NFs) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The alloy NFs showed a particle size of 200 nm–1 μm, which could be controlled. The electrochemical performance of the as-prepared alloy NFs was investigated to evaluate their potential for application as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes. The incorporation of W(2)C in the WS(2) NFs improved their electronic properties. Among them, the W(2)C/WS(2)_4h NF electrode showed the best electrochemical performance with an initial discharge capacity of 1040 mAh g(−1) and excellent cyclability corresponding to a reversible capacity of 500 mAh g(−1) after 100 cycles compared to that of the pure WS(2) NF electrode. Therefore, the incorporation of W(2)C is a promising approach to improve the performance of LIB anode materials.