Enhanced Li-Ion Rate Capability and Stable Efficiency Enabled by MoSe₂ Nanosheets in Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide Fiber Electrodes

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoSe₂ have continued to generate interest in the engineering community because of their unique layered morphology-the strong in-plane chemical bonding between transition metal atoms sandwiched between two chalcogen atoms and the weak physical attraction between adjacent TMD layers provides them with not only chemical versatility but also a range of electronic, optical, and chemical properties that can be unlocked upon exfoliation into individual TMD layers. Such a layered morphology is particularly suitable for ion intercalation as well as for conversion chemistry with alkali metal ions for electrochemical energy storage applications. Nonetheless, host of issues including fast capacity decay arising due to volume changes and from TMD's degradation reaction with electrolyte at low discharge potentials have restricted use in commercial batteries. One approach to overcome barriers associated with TMDs' chemical stability functionalization of TMD surfaces by chemically robust precursor-derived ceramics or PDC materials, such as silicon oxycarbide (SiOC). SiOC-functionalized TMDs have shown to curb capacity degradation in TMD and improve long term cycling as Li-ion battery (LIBs) electrodes. Herein, we report synthesis of such a composite in which MoSe₂ nanosheets are in SiOC matrix in a self-standing fiber mat configuration. This was achieved via electrospinning of TMD nanosheets suspended in pre-ceramic polymer followed by high temperature pyrolysis. Morphology and chemical composition of synthesized material was established by use of electron microscopy and spectroscopic technique. When tested as LIB electrode, the SiOC/MoSe₂ fiber mats showed improved cycling stability over neat MoSe₂ and neat SiOC electrodes. The freestanding composite electrode delivered a high charge capacity of 586 mAh g^-1_electrode with an initial coulombic efficiency of 58%. The composite electrode also showed good cycling stability over SiOC fiber mat electrode for over 100 cycles.