Two Birds with One Stone: Prelithiated Two-Dimensional Nanohybrids as High-Performance Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

As an inexpensive and naturally abundant two-dimensional (2D) material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) exhibits a high Li-ion storage capacity along with a low volume expansion upon lithiation, rendering it an alternative anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the challenge of using MoS₂-based anodes is their intrinsically low electrical conductivity and unsatisfied cycle stability. To address the above issues, we have exploited a wet chemical technique and integrated MoS₂ with highly conductive titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂) MXene to form a 2D nanohybrid. The binary hybrids were then subjected to an n-butyllithium (n-Buli) treatment to induce both MoS₂ deep phase transition and MXene surface functionality modulation simultaneously. We observed a substantial increase in 1T-phase MoS₂ content and a clear suppression of −F-containing functional groups in MXene due to the prelithiation process enabled by the n-Buli treatment. Such an approach not only increases the overall network conductivity but also improves Li-ion diffusion kinetics. As a result, the MoS₂/Ti₃C₂ composite with n-Buli treatment delivered a high Li-ion storage capacity (540 mA h g^–1 at 100 mA g^–1), outstanding cycle stability (up to 300 cycles), and excellent rate capability. This work provides an effective strategy for the structure–property engineering of 2D materials and sheds light on the rational design of high-performance LIBs using 2D-based anode materials.