Self-assembly of ultrathin mesoporous CoMoO₄ nanosheet networks on flexible carbon fabric as a binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries

Novel hierarchical CoMoO₄ networks assembled by ultrathin mesoporous nanosheets were directly grown on flexible carbon fabric with robust adhesion by a facile hydrothermal method route and subsequent thermal annealing. The building block nanosheets of the as-prepared CoMoO₄ nanoarchitectures show a mesoporous structure with pores of 2-5 nm, and the thickness as small as 3-5 nm. Based on the time-dependent experiments, a probable growth mechanism of the CoMoO₄ nanosheet networks directly grown on the surface of carbon fabric is proposed. Benefitting from the unique structural features, the resultant CoMoO₄/carbon fabric electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with a high reversible capacity (1128.05 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 100 mA g^-1) and good cycling stability for highly reversible lithium storage (87.76% retention after 150 cycles). The superior electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of charge transfer express way, high specific surface area and porous hierarchical structure for electrolyte penetration.