Co_0.1-NbSSe Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Synergistic Approach of Defect Engineering and Ion Doping

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted great research interest as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), owing to their remarkable specific capacity and stable cycling performance. However, challenges, such as limited active sites, poor cyclic performance, and low-rate capability, hinder their broader application. In this study, Co0.1-NbSSe was synthesized by using chemical vapor transport and hydrothermal methods. The Co0.1-NbSSe electrodes show the best performance compared with NbS2, NbSe2, and NbSSe electrodes. Significantly, the Co0.1-NbSSe electrode has a specific capacity of approximately 1037 mA h g–1 at 1 A g–1 after 1000 cycles, indicating its large capacity. At the same time, it has an excellent rate performance of approximately 305 mA h g–1 at 5 A g–1. The improved specific capacity and rate performance are attributed to the enhanced conductivity and additional lithium storage sites. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that more defects and reactive sites resulting from doping improve the electrochemical performance. These findings suggest that Co0.1-NbSSe is a good candidate for high-performance LIB anode materials, which offer a pathway to overcome the current challenges in TMD-based electrodes.