Spatial confinement of MoS2 nanoparticles in jellyfish-inspired open-mouthed spheres for high-capacity and ultrafast-rate sodium-ion capture

Abstract

Rational nanoscale structure engineering of electroactive nanoarchitecture is a very promising strategy for designing advanced capacitive deionization (CDI) materials. Herein, inspired by jellyfish physiological structure, open-mouthed MoS₂/C hierarchical porous spheres were fabricated via direct-spray pyrolysis by adopting a strategy of coupling defective MoS₂ with locally conductive network graphene quantum dots. Such a well-developed open-mouthed interconnected porous structure significantly stimulated the permeation of electrolyte ion the deep internal spaces of electrode, facilitated fast ion diffusion and provided abundant electrochemical adsorption sites, endowing the MoS₂/C electrode with a remarkable desalination capacity of 118.83 mg g⁻¹, an impressively rapid desalination rate of 51.35 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹, and a good long-term cycle stability of 82 % after 50 cycles. This work inspires the design hierarchically porous composite materials with unique micro-nanostructures, offering a new viable route for the continuous and efficient production of CDI electrode materials.