Amorphous phase engineering in Ni-doped MoS2@C: synergistic structural-electronic modulation for high-energy-power sodium-ion hybrid capacitors
摘要
Sodium-ion hybrid capacitors (SICs) offer inherent energy-power synergy but are constrained by mismatched kinetics and life spans between the anode and cathode materials. Two-dimensional MoS2@C composites demonstrate excellent kinetics and structural stability, thanks to the built-in electric field of the carbon heterostructure and its adaptability to volume changes. Yet, the carbon shell imposes a physical barrier to interfacial Na+ diffusion, while deep discharge induces the formation of crystalline Na2S, accompanied by severe volumetric expansion and sluggish reversibility—factors that accelerate capacity fading and structural degradation. To address these challenges, a trace-level Ni doping strategy is introduced, enabling precise modulation of the composite’s interlayer structure, electronic configuration, and reaction pathway. Ni incorporation expands the MoS2 inter-layer spacing, reconstructs short-range ordered nanocrystals within a hierarchically porous network, and promotes Na+ diffusion by weakening interlayer van der Waals forces. Orbital hybridization between Ni-3d and Mo-4d/S-3p states enhances electronic conductivity and reduces charge transfer resistance. Critically, Ni doping enhances electron transfer from Ni to sulfur, which weakens Na–S bonds and promotes the formation of amorphous Na2S, thereby suppressing crystalline Na2S and enabling a reversible MoS2/Na2S conversion mechanism for improved structural stability and cycling performance. As a result, the optimized MoS2-Ni@C anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 334 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 with 68% retention after 10,000 cycles. When assembled into a SIC device (MoS2-Ni@C//AC), it achieves an energy density of 135 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 60.8 kW kg−1 (based on anode mass), with 76% retention over 3,000 cycles.