Uniform ReS2 porous nanospheres assembled from curly ReS2 few-layers with an expanded interlayer spacing for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract A facile hydrothermal method has been exploited to synthesize the uniform ReS 2 three-dimensional hierarchical nanospheres assembled from few-layered ReS 2 nanosheets with expanded interlayers (designated as porous NSs), resulting in a lot of large pores formed from the curly ReS 2 nanosheets. The expanded interlayers of the ReS 2 porous NSs could accommodate more lithium ions and facilitate lithium ion transports. Especially notable is that the large void spaces in the three-dimensional hierarchical nanospheres is very favorable for buffering the volume expansion, very much favoring the preservation of the electrode integrity during the lithiation/delithiation process. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries at a current density of 100 mA g −1 after 100 cycles, the unique ReS 2 porous NSs deliver a remarkably enhanced reversible capacity of 1011 mAh g −1 with a capacity retention of over 100%, which is significantly superior to the ReS 2 solid microparticles (solid MPs) with a capacity of 458 mAh g −1 and a capacity retention of merely 75%. The very high reversible capacity is indicative of the robustness of the present ReS 2 porous NSs as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries, which may pave the way to further study the three-dimensional self-assembly of two-dimensional layered materials towards the superior electrochemical energy storage.