Self-standing paper based anodes prepared from siliconcarbonitride-MoS$_{2}$ composite for Li-ion battery applications

We study synthesis of free-standing polymer derived SiCN/ MoS$_{2}$ composite paper anode for Li-ion battery application. This was achieved following a two-step approach: First, polysilazane was interfaced with exfoliated MoS$_{2}$ nanosheets which upon pyrolysis resulted in SiCN/MoS$_{2}$ composite. Second, dispersion of SiCN/MoS$_{2}$ in isopropanol was vacuum filtered resulting in formation of a self-standing composite paper. Physical and chemical characterization of the composite was carried out by use of electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). FT-IR data indicated complete conversion of polysilazane precursor to SiCN ceramic, while electron microscopy confirmed layered structure of the paper. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed enhanced thermodynamic stability of the composite paper up to 800 $^{\circ}$C. Electrochemical analysis of SiCN/MoS$_{2}$ composite paper anodes showed that Li-ion can reversible intercalate in the voltage range of 0-2.5 V with a first cycle discharge capacity of 770 mAh/g at a current density of 100 mA/g.