Constructing high-biosecurity MoS₂-based anodes for rapid and efficient lithium storage

Lithium-ion batteries that integrate electrochemical performance and safety considerations offer advantages to curb the reliance on fossil fuels while minimizing the potential environmental risks. Transition metal disulfides and metal oxides with high specific capacity are promising candidates as anodes for lithium storage. However, neither the layered structure of MoS₂ nor the powder form of In₂O₃ is ideal for battery prolonged applications. Herein, we demonstrated a low-toxicity anode designed with hollow fibers to regulate the MoS₂ contact surface, significantly reducing biotoxicity and enhancing Li⁺ diffusion. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the interactions among MoS₂, In₂O₃, and the hollow structure lowered the Li-ion migration energy barrier hence fastening the diffusion. Moreover, the MoS₂-containing fiber showed significantly decreased toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared to MoS₂ alone, demonstrating a proof-of-principle of integrating functional nanomaterials into flexible fiber structures to improve both electrochemical performance and safety.