Freestanding MoSe 2 nanoflowers for superior Li/Na storage properties

MoSe 2 , with high theoretical specific capacity, has attracted a lot of attention. There remains an open challenge to effectively suppress the irreversible selenium dissolution and rapid capacity decrease induced by severe volume change during cycling. Herein, we synthesize MoSe 2 nanoflowers dispersed on one-dimensional (1D) N-doped carbon nanofibers (MoSe 2 @NCNFs) for use as a freestanding electrode. In this unique structure, the 1D N-doped carbon nanofibers are found to not only enhance the conductivity but also ensure the structural integrity during the Li + /Na + insertion/destraction processes. As expected, at 2 A·g −1 , the specific capacity of the MoSe 2 @NCNFs is maintained at 180 mAh·g −1 after 500 cycles when used in lithium storage applications. Furthermore, in the case of sodium storage, at 1 A·g −1 , the MoSe 2 @NCNFs shows a capacity of 122 mAh·g −1 after 500 cycles. These findings suggest that the MoSe 2 @NCNF electrodes may be a promising candidate for use in reversible Li/Na storage applications.