Biocarbon based template synthesis of uniform lamellar MoS2 nanoflowers with excellent energy storage performance in lithium-ion battery and supercapacitors

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of the Ce2Mo3O12/MoS2/C Composite as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Rare earths are of significant benefit to the electrochemical performance, reliability, and safety of batteries. The integration of rare earth elements into MoS2 anode materials holds promise for enhancing the cycling stability of batteries during charging and discharging cycles. In this work, a nanoflower-like composite of Ce2Mo3O12/MoS2/C was synthesized as an anode material by an enhanced hydrothermal method. The experimental results showed that the incorporation of carbon resulted in a more sophisticated flower-like structure of the material. The annealing process has little effect on the morphology and crystal structure of the Ce2Mo3O12/MoS2/C composite. After being annealed at 500 °C for 2 h, the Ce2Mo3O12/MoS2/C composite exhibited remarkable cycling stability as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The initial discharge capacity at a current density of 500 mA g-1 was 747.98 mAh g-1, while the discharge capacity after 200 cycles exhibited a capacity retention rate of 77.34%. The results demonstrate the potential of this material for energy storage applications and provide an alternative to the rational design of related materials.

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass for Electrochemical Energy Storage: Parameters, Mechanisms, Electrochemical Performance, and the Incorporation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanoparticles

Given the pressing climate and sustainability challenges, shifting industrial processes towards environmentally friendly practices is imperative. Among various strategies, the generation of green, flexible materials combined with efficient reutilization of biomass stands out. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process as a sustainable approach for developing carbonaceous materials from biomass. Key parameters influencing hydrochar preparation are examined, along with the mechanisms governing hydrochar formation and pore development. Then, this review explores the application of hydrochars in supercapacitors, offering a novel comparative analysis of the electrochemical performance of various biomass-based electrodes, considering parameters such as capacitance, stability, and textural properties. Biomass-based hydrochars emerge as a promising alternative to traditional carbonaceous materials, with potential for further enhancement through the incorporation of extrinsic nanoparticles like graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds and metal oxides. Of particular interest is the relatively unexplored use of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), with preliminary findings demonstrating highly competitive capacitances of up to 360 F/g when combined with hydrochars. This exceptional electrochemical performance, coupled with unique material properties, positions these biomass-based hydrochars interesting candidates to advance the energy industry towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Designed fabrication of MoS2 hollow structures with different geometries and the comparative investigation toward capacitive properties

Hollow MoS2 cubes and spheres were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method with the hard template method. The structure and morphology were characterized, and their electrochemical properties were studied. It is concluded that the specific capacitance of the hollow MoS2 cubes (335.7 F g-1) is higher than that of the hollow MoS2 spheres (256.1 F g-1). The symmetrical supercapacitors were assembled, and the results indicate that the specific capacitance of the device composed of hollow MoS2 spheres (32.9 F g-1) is slightly lower than that of the hollow MoS2 cube (37.4 F g-1) device. Furthermore, the symmetrical supercapacitor (MoS2-cube//MoS2-cube) provides a maximum energy density of 4.93 W h kg-1, which is greater than that of the symmetrical capacitor (MoS2-sphere//MoS2-sphere, 3.65 W h kg-1). This may indicate that hollow molybdenum disulfide cubes with substructures have more efficient charge transfer capabilities and better capacitance characteristics than hollow spheres. After 8000 cycles, the coulombic efficiency of the two symmetrical capacitors is close to 100%. The capacity retention of the MoS2 sphere device (95.2%) is slightly higher than that of the MoS2 cube device (90.1%). These results show that the pore structure, specific surface, and active site of MoS2 with different hollow structures have a greater impact on its electrochemical properties.

Coal Tar Pitch-Based Porous Carbon Loaded MoS2 and Its Application in Supercapacitors

In this paper, with coal tar pitch as the carbon source, porous carbon (PC) was prepared by one-step carbonization. To improve the energy density of coal tar pitch-based porous carbon, MoS2@PC was prepared by a hydrothermal method on a PC substrate. The effect of MoS2 loading on the structure and electrochemical properties of the sample was studied. The results show that the specific surface area of the MoS2@PC-0.3 synthesized is 3053 m2 g-1, and the large specific surface area provides sufficient attachment sites for the storage of electrolyte ions. In the three-electrode system, the specific capacitance of MoS2@PC-0.3 at 0.5 A g-1 is 422.5 F g-1, and the magnification performance is 57.3% at 20 A g-1. After 10,000 charge/discharge cycles, the capacitance retention rate of the sample is 76.73%, with the Coulombic efficiency being 100%. In the two-electrode test system, the specific capacitance of MoS2@PC-0.3 at 0.5 A g-1 is 321.4 F g-1, with the power density and energy density being 500 W kg-1 and 44.6 Wh kg-1, respectively. At a current density of 20 A g-1, the capacitance retention rate is 87.69% after 10,000 cycles. This study greatly improves the energy density of PC as the electrode material of supercapacitors.

Metal-Supported Biochar Catalysts for Sustainable Biorefinery, Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage Applications: A Review

Biochar (BCH) is a carbon-based bio-material produced from thermochemical conversion of biomass. Several activation or functionalization methods are usually used to improve physicochemical and functional properties of BCHs. In the context of green and sustainable future development, activated and functionalized biochars with abundant surface functional groups and large surface area can act as effective catalysts or catalyst supports for chemical transformation of a range of bioproducts in biorefineries. Above the well-known BCH applications, their use as adsorbents to remove pollutants are the mostly discussed, although their potential as catalysts or catalyst supports for advanced (electro)catalytic processes has not been comprehensively explored. In this review, the production/activation/functionalization of metal-supported biochar (M-BCH) are scrutinized, giving special emphasis to the metal-functionalized biochar-based (electro)catalysts as promising catalysts for bioenergy and bioproducts production. Their performance in the fields of biorefinery processes, and energy storage and conversion as electrode materials for oxygen and hydrogen evolutions, oxygen reduction, and supercapacitors, are also reviewed and discussed.

Controllably Doping Nitrogen into 1T/2H MoS2 Heterostructure Nanosheets for Enhanced Supercapacitive and Electrocatalytic Performance by Low-Power N2 Plasma

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is a promising candidate for use as a supercapacitor electrode material and non-noble-metal electrocatalyst owing to its relatively high theoretical specific capacitance, Pt-like electronic feature, and graphene-like structure. However, insufficient electrochemically active sites along with poor conductivity significantly hinder its practical application. Heteroatom doping and phase engineering have been regarded as effective ways to overcome the inherent limitations of MoS₂ and enhance its ion storage and electrocatalytic performance. In this study, a plasma-assisted nitrogen-doped 1T/2H MoS₂ heterostructure has been proposed for the first time, resulting in excellent supercapacitor performance and hydrogen evolution reaction activity. XPS, Raman, and TEM analysis results indicate that N atoms have been successfully doped into MoS₂ nanosheets via room-temperature low-power N₂ plasma, and the 1T/2H hybrid phase is maintained. As expected, the 1T/2H MoS₂ heterostructure after a 10 min plasma treatment displayed a much boosted supercapacitive performance with a high specific capacitance of 410 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and an excellent hydrogen evolution property with a low overpotential of 131 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm^-2 for hydrogen evolution reaction. The excellent performance is superior to most of the recently reported outstanding MoS₂-based electrode and electrocatalytic materials. Moreover, the as-assembled flexible symmetric supercapacitor shows a high specific capacitance of 84.8 F g^-1 and superior mechanical robustness with 84.5% capacity retention after 2000 bending cycles.

Carbon nitride used as a reactive template to prepare mesoporous molybdenum sulfide and nitride

Carbon nitride C3N4 has been used as a sacrificial template to prepare inorganic materials with hierarchical pore structure. C3N4 impregnated with ammonium heptamolybdate was treated in reactive gas mixtures (H2S/H2 or NH3/H2). This approach allowed mesoporous molybdenum sulfide and molybdenum nitride materials to be obtained that replicate the morphology of the C3N4 template. Advantageous catalytic properties have been demonstrated in the thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The highest rates in both reactions were observed for partially sulfidized Mo2N solid.

A Mini Review of the Preparation and Photocatalytic Properties of Two-Dimensional Materials

The successful preparation and application of graphene shows that it is feasible for the materials with a thickness of a single atom or few atomic layers to exist stably in nature. These materials can exhibit unusual physical and chemical properties due to their special dimension effects. At present, researchers have made great achievements in the preparation, characterization, modification, and theoretical research of 2D materials. Because the structure of 2D materials is often similar, it has a certain degree of qualitative versatility. Besides, 2D materials often carry good catalytic performance on account of their more active sites and adjustable harmonic electronic structure. In this review, taking 2D materials as examples [graphene, boron nitride (h-BN), transition metal sulfide and so on], we review the crystal structure and preparation methods of these materials in recent years, focus on their photocatalyst properties (carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen production), and discuss their applications and development prospects in the future.

Hierarchical Porous MoS2/C Nanospheres Self-Assembled by Nanosheets with High Electrochemical Energy Storage Performance

To overcome the deficiency of the volume expansion of MoS₂ as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), an effective strategy was developed to design hierarchical porous MoS₂/carbon nanospheres via a facile, easy-operated hydrothermal method followed by annealing. FESEM and TEM images clearly showed that nanospheres are composed of ultra-thin MoS₂/C nanosheets coated with carbon layer and possess an expanded interlayer spacing of 0.98 nm. As anodes for LIBs, MoS₂/carbon nanospheres deliver an initial discharge capacity of 1307.77 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g^-1. Moreover, a reversible capacity of 612 mAh g^-1 was obtained even at 2 A g^-1 and a capacity retention of 439 mAh g^-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g^-1. The improved electrochemical performance is ascribed to the hierarchical porous structure as well as the intercalation of carbon into lattice spacing of MoS₂, which offers fast channels for ion/electron transport, relieves the influence of volume change and increases electrical conductivity of electrode. Meanwhile, the expanded interlayer spacing of MoS₂ in MoS₂/C can decrease the ion diffusion resistance and alleviate the volumetric expansion during discharge/charge cycles.

Design of nickel cobalt molybdate regulated by boronizing for high-performance supercapacitor applications

Nickel-cobalt-based molybdates have been intensively investigated because of their high theoretical specific capacitance and multifarious oxidation states. Here, we have successfully synthesized hierarchical structures (Ni₃B/Ni(BO₂)₂@Ni_xCo_yMoO₄) by boronizing Ni_xCo_yMoO₄ nanosheets on flexible carbon cloth substrates. Benefitting from the synergistic effect among Ni₃B, Ni(BO₂)₂ and Ni_xCo_yMoO₄ in hybrid architectures, the electrode material possesses higher capacity of 394.7 mA h g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 and a good rate performance (309.5 mA h g^-1 maintained at 20 A g^-1). Then, a hybrid supercapacitor assembled with Ni₃B/Ni(BO₂)₂@Ni_xCo_yMoO₄ and activated carbon as the positive and the negative electrode, displays a high specific capacitance of 370.7 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 (210 F g^-1 at 10 A g^-1), a high voltage of 1.7 V, and a high energy density of 131.8 W h kg^-1 at the power density of 800 W kg^-1 (still 74.7 W h kg^-1 maintained at 8000 W kg^-1). This study widens the research scope of boronizing pseudocapacitance materials and reveals a high application potential of Ni₃B/Ni(BO₂)₂@Ni_xCo_yMoO₄ for energy storage devices in the future.

Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Valuable Tool for Energy and Environmental Applications: A Review

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) represents an efficient and valuable pre-treatment technology to convert waste biomass into highly dense carbonaceous materials that could be used in a wide range of applications between energy, environment, soil improvement and nutrients recovery fields. HTC converts residual organic materials into a solid high energy dense material (hydrochar) and a liquid residue where the most volatile and oxygenated compounds (mainly furans and organic acids) concentrate during reaction. Pristine hydrochar is mainly used for direct combustion, to generate heat or electricity, but highly porous carbonaceous media for energy storage or for adsorption of pollutants applications can be also obtained through a further activation stage. HTC process can be used to enhance recovery of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorous in particular and can be used as soil conditioner, to favor plant growth and mitigate desertification of soils. The present review proposes an outlook of the several possible applications of hydrochar produced from any sort of waste biomass sources. For each of the applications proposed, the main operative parameters that mostly affect the hydrochar properties and characteristics are highlighted, in order to match the needs for the specific application.