Graphene nanosheets encapsulated α-MoO3 nanoribbons with ultrahigh lithium ion storage properties

Abstract

A facile and effective method has been reported to synthesize graphene-encapsulated α-MoO₃ nanoribbons by a self-assembly process between negatively charged graphene oxide and positively charged MoO₃ nanoribbons. Compared to the structures of MoO₃ nanobelts grown on graphene or other hybrids of MoO₃ composited with carbon or non-carbon, this unique hybrid architecture of the graphene-encapsulated MoO₃ nanoribbons exhibits not only a high specific capacity (up to 823 mAh g⁻¹ after 70 cycles at 200 mA g⁻¹), but also an excellent cycling performance (with more than 754 mAh g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 1000 mA g⁻¹ ) as well as a greatly-enhanced high-rate capability (displaying a high discharge capacity of 710 mAh g⁻¹ after 30 cycles at 3000 mA g⁻¹), thus showing great potential as an anode material for lithium ion batteries.