Atomically Intercalating Tin Ions into the Interlayer of Molybdenum Oxide Nanobelt toward Long-Cycling Lithium Battery

Atomic intercalation of different agents into 2D layered materials can engineer the intrinsic structure on the atomic scale and thus tune the physical and chemical properties for specific applications. Here we successfully introduce tin (Sn) atoms into the interlayer of alpha-MoO3 nanobelts forming a new MoO3-Sn intercalation with ultrastable structure. Combining with theoretical calculations, our synchrotron radiation-based characterizations and electron microscope observations clearly reveal that the intercalated Sn atoms could bond with five O atoms, forming a pentahedral structure. Subsequently, the Sn-O bonds induce a less distorted [MoO6] octahedral structure, resulting in a unique structure that is distinct with pristine alpha-MoO3 or any other molybdenum oxides. Employed as anode for lithium-ion battery, the as-prepared MoO3-Sn nanobelts display a much higher capacity of 520 mAhg(-1) at 500 mAg(-1) than alpha-MoO3 nanobelts (291 mAhg(-1)), with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.5%. Moreover, owing to the strong intercalation from Sn ions, the MoO3-Sn nanobelts pose superior cyclability, durability, and reliability.