Atomic Molybdenum on Porous N-Doped Carbon Enables Catalytic SEI Engineering for Stable Lithium Storage

Atomically dispersed metal dopants in porous carbon are a promising frontier for high-capacity lithium-ion battery anodes. However, achieving optimal porous architectures and active site engineering through simple synthesis remains challenging. Herein, we report a facile strategy to fabricate atomic molybdenum anchored hierarchical N-doped porous carbon (Mo-NC) using ultrafine MoC nanoparticles as a multifunctional sacrificial template. A subsequent mild H2O2 etching process simultaneously generates a high-surface-area porous network while leaving atomically dispersed Mo atoms within the N-doped carbon framework. As an anode material, the resulting Mo-NC delivers an outstanding specific capacity of 1208.7 mA h g–1 at 0.1 A g–1 and maintains 88.3% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g–1. The superior performance originates from the synergistic effect of the hierarchical porous structure, which provides efficient Li+ transport pathways and abundant active sites for Li+ storage, and the interfacial catalytic effect of the atomic Mo. These Mo sites engineer the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) by promoting the formation of a robust, LiF-rich layer and facilitating the decomposition of less stable organic components, thereby contributing extra capacity and ensuring exceptional cycling durability. This work introduces a design principle of interfacial catalysis via atomic metal doping for developing high-performance, long-life energy storage devices.