The integration of high-capacity active materials onto flexible substrates is essential for advancing flexible sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we report a novel strategy for fabricating high-performance, flexible SIB anodes via the immobilization of molybdenum disulfide ( MoS2) nanoparticles on carbon cloth (CC) modified with metal–organic framework-derived carbon nanotubes (MOF-derived CNTs). In this method, Co-containing zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) were assembled on polyaniline-coated CC, followed by CNT growth via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and hydrothermal deposition of MoS2. The resulting MoS2@ CNT@CC electrodes achieved significantly higher MoS2 loading (15–20 wt%) compared to direct deposition on CC (< 5 wt%). Electrochemical evaluation revealed an initial discharge capacity of 231 mAh g− 1 with a Coulombic efficiency of 94.3%, outperforming MoS2@ CC (150 mAh g− 1, 77.8%) and bare CC (113 mAh g− 1, 74.3%). After 100 cycles at 50 mA g− 1, MoS2@ CNT@CC maintained a stable capacity of 133 mAh g− 1 and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed enhanced redox activity, while mechanical tests showed no significant degradation after 10,000 bending cycles (10 mm radius). These findings highlight the effectiveness of MOF-derived CNTs in enhancing MoS2 loading, conductivity, and mechanical resilience, offering a promising route toward robust and efficient flexible SIB anodes.

Immobilization of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles onto metal–organic framework-derived carbon nanotubes and carbon cloth templates for flexible sodium-ion battery anodes
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Materials and methods
        2.1 Preparation of ZIF-Co-L@PANi@CC samples
        2.2 MOF-derived CNT growth and hydrothermal immobilization of MoS2 nanoparticles
        2.3 Characterization and measurements
        2.4 Electrochemical characterization
    3 Results and discussion
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Jinwoo Hwang(Department of Chemical Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of Korea)
• Seokkyu Kim(Department of Chemical Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of Korea)
• Eunho Lee(Department of Chemical Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Republic of Korea, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea)
• Joong Tark Han(Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center, Electrical Materials Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), Changwon 51543, Republic of Korea)
• Jong Hwan Park(Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center, Electrical Materials Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), Changwon 51543, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• Gyeongbeom Ryoo(Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center, Electrical Materials Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), Changwon 51543, Republic of Korea, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea)