Characterization of nanosize molybdenum trisulfide for lithium batteries and MoS3 structure confirmation via electrochemistry

Jiazhao Wang, University of Wollongong
See How Ng, University of Wollongong
S. Y. Chew, University of Wollongong
David Wexler, University of Wollongong
Guoxiu Wang, University of Wollongong
Hua K. Liu, University of Wollongong

Wang, J., Ng, S. H., Chew, S. Yen., Wexler, D., Wang, G. X. & Liu, H. K. (2007). Characterization of nanosize molybdenum trisulfide for lithium batteries and MoS3 structure confirmation via electrochemistry. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 10 (9), A204-A207.

Abstract

Nanosize molybdenum trisulfide, MoS₃, was synthesized in a polyoxyethylene(2) nonylphenyl ether/cyclohexane/water microemulsion by acidifying ammonium tetrathiomolybdate solubilized in the water cores of inverse micelles. MoS₃ was also prepared by thermal decomposition for comparison. X-ray diffraction, TEM, and electrochemical testing characterized the molybdenum trisulfide. By comparing the cyclic voltammetry results on MoS₃ and S electrodes in lithium cells, the conclusions about the structure of MoS₃ from previous research work have been confirmed. That is, the molybdenum trisulfide molecules were not a mixture of MoS₂ and elemental S. Molybdenum trisulfide exists as Mo₃S₉ clusters, which are, in turn, linked by bridging S-S bonds.