An electrode for u se a n a lithium -ion battery, the electrode com p rising a group I'-1 compound a nd a t ran sition metal g rou p VI co mpound on a three-dimensional graphene network, wherei n a major portion of the tra nsiti on metal group VI comoun d is p rovide d o n to p of the group 1V-VI compo und or in close pr oxami ty to it, wh ere bv th e tr ansiti on metal grou p VI co m poun d contr ibut es to t he decompositi on of a lithium group VI com pou nd at the surfa c e of t he T roup IV-V compound, the group 1V-VI compound beang rep resente d by the chemacal formula MX 2, where in M is selected fro m tin, germanium and silicon an d X is selected fro m sul p hur, oxy gen and selenium, t h e transition m eta l group V I compound co mpri sing a trans aii on metal and a grou p VI elem ent, t h e group V T element bein g se lec ted from sul phur, oxy g en and selenium.

Th e e l ectrode according to item 4, wherein t he nanosheets of the t ransi tion metal grou p V I compo und are provi ded on la rger nanosheets of t he group IV-VI compound. The electrode a ccording to one of the precedi n g i tems, wh erein a loading of the group IV-VI comTpounnd is 0. 7-1 m g per cu bic cen timeter of th e thre'-d-cimensiona1 graphene network.

The electrode a ccording to one of the preceding i tems, wherein th e th ree- dimensi onal graphene formls a binder- fr ee inter conne cted poro u s ne t work.

The electrode accordi ng to one of the preceding items, wherein th e g roup IV-VI co mp ound is tin di sul fide an d th e tra ns itio n metal group VI co mpo und is moly bdenu m di sul fide or tungsten d isulfide.

A lithium-i on bat ter y comprisin g an electrode according to one of the preceding i tems, t he lithium-ion battery fu rther comrpri sin g a cas in g with a first ter m inal and a second t erm ina l, a counter e l ectr o de a nd an electrol yte, the elect rolyte c o ntaining lithium ions, wherein the el ectrod e, the counter e lec t rode and the el ect r olyte are provi ded in the casing, the electrode is connected to a fir st terminal, the counter electrode is connected to the second terminal, and the electrolyte is in contact with the electrode and with the counter electrode.

A method of produ cing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising-depositing a carbon compound on a porous metal scaffold by c hemi cal vapor deposition to obtain a three- dimens ion a l gr aphene,-bring ing a g roup IV compound into contact with the three- di mensional graphene, the g roup IV compound comprisin g tin, germanium or silicon,-sub j ecting the group IV compound and the three- di mensional graphene to a hydrothermal t reatment to obtain a g rou p IV-VI compo u nd surface structure on the three- d imensional gr aphene,-bringing a transition metal group V I compound into contact with t he three- d imensional graphene,-subjectin g the transition metal group VI compound and the three-dimensi onal gr aphene with the gro up IV -VI compo u nd surface structure to a hydrot hermal treatment to obtain a transition metal group V I compound s urf ace structure on the g roup I V-VI compound surface structure.

The method according to item 10, wherein the preparation of the three-dimensional graphe ne comprises flowin g a mixture of argon and ethanol over a nickel foam, coolin g the reaction product, et chi ng away the nickel foam.

The method acco rd ing to it em 10 or item ii, wherein the p repara ti on of the group I V-VI compound on t he t h ree- di ensiona l o raphene co mprises providinog a mixture of a grouo IV tetrachioride, water, tn ioace amri de and sod ium d odec yl sulfate i n e t hanol, the group IV tetrachloride bein g selected from in tetrachlori d e, ge r man ium tetrach l oride and silico n tetrachloride, bring ing t he mixture and the three-dime n sio nal graohene to get her, l ettin g the mi xtur e and the three-di m ens i ona l gra p hene react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite m 10 to 12, wher-ein the preparaci on of the transition m eta l groUp VI compound on the three-dimensl ona l graphene comp rises providing a mixtur e of a group VI ami no acid a nd s odium transition metal compound i n water and et hanol, th e group Vi ami no acid being s el ected from L -cy stei ne, selenocystei ne and se ri ne, bringing p ieces of the three-di m ensiona l graphene w ith the rooUp IV-VI surface structure and the mi xture togeth er, I ett ing t he th ree-dimens or al grahe-,n-ea wi t h the groun IV VI compoun d surfa ce str uct u re and t he mixtu re react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite ms 10 to 13 comprising drying the electrode m ateria l at a t em peratu re above 100 C.

A method for p rod uci ng a li thium-ion ba tter y compris ing producing an el ect rode accordi nc to o ne of t he i tems 10 to 14, t he meth od f urther compr isi ng providing a co unte r eiectroo e and a me m bra ne, inseramng the electrode, t h e membrane and the coun ter electrode into a casing of the coin ce ii, filling an electro l yte into the casing of the lithium- ion battery, cl osin g the casin g of the l ithiu m -ion battery. Claims What is claimed is:

An electrode for u se a n a lithium -ion battery, the electrode com p rising a group I'-1 compound a nd a t ran sition metal g rou p VI co mpound on a three-dimensional graphene network, wherei n a major portion of the tra nsiti on metal group VI comoun d is p rovide d o n to p of the group 1V-VI compo und or in close pr oxami ty to it, wh ere bv th e tr ansiti on metal grou p VI co m poun d contr ibut es to t he decompositi on of a lithium group VI com pou nd at the surfa c e of t he T roup IV-V compound, the group 1V-VI compound beang rep resente d by the chemacal formula MX 2, where in M is selected fro m tin, germanium and silicon an d X is selected fro m sul p hur, oxy gen and selenium, t h e transition m eta l group V I compound co mpri sing a trans aii on metal and a grou p VI elem ent, t h e group V T element bein g se lec ted from sul phur, oxy g en and selenium.

Th e e l ectrode according to item 4, wherein t he nanosheets of the t ransi tion metal grou p V I compo und are provi ded on la rger nanosheets of t he group IV-VI compound. The electrode a ccording to one of the precedi n g i tems, wh erein a loading of the group IV-VI comTpounnd is 0. 7-1 m g per cu bic cen timeter of th e thre'-d-cimensiona1 graphene network.

The electrode a ccording to one of the preceding i tems, wherein th e th ree- dimensi onal graphene formls a binder- fr ee inter conne cted poro u s ne t work.

The electrode accordi ng to one of the preceding items, wherein th e g roup IV-VI co mp ound is tin di sul fide an d th e tra ns itio n metal group VI co mpo und is moly bdenu m di sul fide or tungsten d isulfide.

A lithium-i on bat ter y comprisin g an electrode according to one of the preceding i tems, t he lithium-ion battery fu rther comrpri sin g a cas in g with a first ter m inal and a second t erm ina l, a counter e l ectr o de a nd an electrol yte, the elect rolyte c o ntaining lithium ions, wherein the el ectrod e, the counter e lec t rode and the el ect r olyte are provi ded in the casing, the electrode is connected to a fir st terminal, the counter electrode is connected to the second terminal, and the electrolyte is in contact with the electrode and with the counter electrode.

A method of produ cing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising-depositing a carbon compound on a porous metal scaffold by c hemi cal vapor deposition to obtain a three- dimens ion a l gr aphene,-bring ing a g roup IV compound into contact with the three- di mensional graphene, the g roup IV compound comprisin g tin, germanium or silicon,-sub j ecting the group IV compound and the three- di mensional graphene to a hydrothermal t reatment to obtain a g rou p IV-VI compo u nd surface structure on the three- d imensional gr aphene,-bringing a transition metal group V I compound into contact with t he three- d imensional graphene,-subjectin g the transition metal group VI compound and the three-dimensi onal gr aphene with the gro up IV -VI compo u nd surface structure to a hydrot hermal treatment to obtain a transition metal group V I compound s urf ace structure on the g roup I V-VI compound surface structure.

The method according to item 10, wherein the preparation of the three-dimensional graphe ne comprises flowin g a mixture of argon and ethanol over a nickel foam, coolin g the reaction product, et chi ng away the nickel foam.

The method acco rd ing to it em 10 or item ii, wherein the p repara ti on of the group I V-VI compound on t he t h ree- di ensiona l o raphene co mprises providinog a mixture of a grouo IV tetrachioride, water, tn ioace amri de and sod ium d odec yl sulfate i n e t hanol, the group IV tetrachloride bein g selected from in tetrachlori d e, ge r man ium tetrach l oride and silico n tetrachloride, bring ing t he mixture and the three-dime n sio nal graohene to get her, l ettin g the mi xtur e and the three-di m ens i ona l gra p hene react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite m 10 to 12, wher-ein the preparaci on of the transition m eta l groUp VI compound on the three-dimensl ona l graphene comp rises providing a mixtur e of a group VI ami no acid a nd s odium transition metal compound i n water and et hanol, th e group Vi ami no acid being s el ected from L -cy stei ne, selenocystei ne and se ri ne, bringing p ieces of the three-di m ensiona l graphene w ith the rooUp IV-VI surface structure and the mi xture togeth er, I ett ing t he th ree-dimens or al grahe-,n-ea wi t h the groun IV VI compoun d surfa ce str uct u re and t he mixtu re react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite ms 10 to 13 comprising drying the electrode m ateria l at a t em peratu re above 100 C.

A method for p rod uci ng a li thium-ion ba tter y compris ing producing an el ect rode accordi nc to o ne of t he i tems 10 to 14, t he meth od f urther compr isi ng providing a co unte r eiectroo e and a me m bra ne, inseramng the electrode, t h e membrane and the coun ter electrode into a casing of the coin ce ii, filling an electro l yte into the casing of the lithium- ion battery, cl osin g the casin g of the l ithiu m -ion battery. Claims What is claimed is:

An electrode for u se a n a lithium -ion battery, the electrode com p rising a group I'-1 compound a nd a t ran sition metal g rou p VI co mpound on a three-dimensional graphene network, wherei n a major portion of the tra nsiti on metal group VI comoun d is p rovide d o n to p of the group 1V-VI compo und or in close pr oxami ty to it, wh ere bv th e tr ansiti on metal grou p VI co m poun d contr ibut es to t he decompositi on of a lithium group VI com pou nd at the surfa c e of t he T roup IV-V compound, the group 1V-VI compound beang rep resente d by the chemacal formula MX 2, where in M is selected fro m tin, germanium and silicon an d X is selected fro m sul p hur, oxy gen and selenium, t h e transition m eta l group V I compound co mpri sing a trans aii on metal and a grou p VI elem ent, t h e group V T element bein g se lec ted from sul phur, oxy g en and selenium.

Th e e l ectrode according to item 4, wherein t he nanosheets of the t ransi tion metal grou p V I compo und are provi ded on la rger nanosheets of t he group IV-VI compound. The electrode a ccording to one of the precedi n g i tems, wh erein a loading of the group IV-VI comTpounnd is 0. 7-1 m g per cu bic cen timeter of th e thre'-d-cimensiona1 graphene network.

The electrode a ccording to one of the preceding i tems, wherein th e th ree- dimensi onal graphene formls a binder- fr ee inter conne cted poro u s ne t work.

The electrode accordi ng to one of the preceding items, wherein th e g roup IV-VI co mp ound is tin di sul fide an d th e tra ns itio n metal group VI co mpo und is moly bdenu m di sul fide or tungsten d isulfide.

A lithium-i on bat ter y comprisin g an electrode according to one of the preceding i tems, t he lithium-ion battery fu rther comrpri sin g a cas in g with a first ter m inal and a second t erm ina l, a counter e l ectr o de a nd an electrol yte, the elect rolyte c o ntaining lithium ions, wherein the el ectrod e, the counter e lec t rode and the el ect r olyte are provi ded in the casing, the electrode is connected to a fir st terminal, the counter electrode is connected to the second terminal, and the electrolyte is in contact with the electrode and with the counter electrode.

A method of produ cing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising-depositing a carbon compound on a porous metal scaffold by c hemi cal vapor deposition to obtain a three- dimens ion a l gr aphene,-bring ing a g roup IV compound into contact with the three- di mensional graphene, the g roup IV compound comprisin g tin, germanium or silicon,-sub j ecting the group IV compound and the three- di mensional graphene to a hydrothermal t reatment to obtain a g rou p IV-VI compo u nd surface structure on the three- d imensional gr aphene,-bringing a transition metal group V I compound into contact with t he three- d imensional graphene,-subjectin g the transition metal group VI compound and the three-dimensi onal gr aphene with the gro up IV -VI compo u nd surface structure to a hydrot hermal treatment to obtain a transition metal group V I compound s urf ace structure on the g roup I V-VI compound surface structure.

The method according to item 10, wherein the preparation of the three-dimensional graphe ne comprises flowin g a mixture of argon and ethanol over a nickel foam, coolin g the reaction product, et chi ng away the nickel foam.

The method acco rd ing to it em 10 or item ii, wherein the p repara ti on of the group I V-VI compound on t he t h ree- di ensiona l o raphene co mprises providinog a mixture of a grouo IV tetrachioride, water, tn ioace amri de and sod ium d odec yl sulfate i n e t hanol, the group IV tetrachloride bein g selected from in tetrachlori d e, ge r man ium tetrach l oride and silico n tetrachloride, bring ing t he mixture and the three-dime n sio nal graohene to get her, l ettin g the mi xtur e and the three-di m ens i ona l gra p hene react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite m 10 to 12, wher-ein the preparaci on of the transition m eta l groUp VI compound on the three-dimensl ona l graphene comp rises providing a mixtur e of a group VI ami no acid a nd s odium transition metal compound i n water and et hanol, th e group Vi ami no acid being s el ected from L -cy stei ne, selenocystei ne and se ri ne, bringing p ieces of the three-di m ensiona l graphene w ith the rooUp IV-VI surface structure and the mi xture togeth er, I ett ing t he th ree-dimens or al grahe-,n-ea wi t h the groun IV VI compoun d surfa ce str uct u re and t he mixtu re react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite ms 10 to 13 comprising drying the electrode m ateria l at a t em peratu re above 100 C.

A method for p rod uci ng a li thium-ion ba tter y compris ing producing an el ect rode accordi nc to o ne of t he i tems 10 to 14, t he meth od f urther compr isi ng providing a co unte r eiectroo e and a me m bra ne, inseramng the electrode, t h e membrane and the coun ter electrode into a casing of the coin ce ii, filling an electro l yte into the casing of the lithium- ion battery, cl osin g the casin g of the l ithiu m -ion battery. Claims What is claimed is:

An electrode for u se a n a lithium -ion battery, the electrode com p rising a group I'-1 compound a nd a t ran sition metal g rou p VI co mpound on a three-dimensional graphene network, wherei n a major portion of the tra nsiti on metal group VI comoun d is p rovide d o n to p of the group 1V-VI compo und or in close pr oxami ty to it, wh ere bv th e tr ansiti on metal grou p VI co m poun d contr ibut es to t he decompositi on of a lithium group VI com pou nd at the surfa c e of t he T roup IV-V compound, the group 1V-VI compound beang rep resente d by the chemacal formula MX 2, where in M is selected fro m tin, germanium and silicon an d X is selected fro m sul p hur, oxy gen and selenium, t h e transition m eta l group V I compound co mpri sing a trans aii on metal and a grou p VI elem ent, t h e group V T element bein g se lec ted from sul phur, oxy g en and selenium.

Th e e l ectrode according to item 4, wherein t he nanosheets of the t ransi tion metal grou p V I compo und are provi ded on la rger nanosheets of t he group IV-VI compound. The electrode a ccording to one of the precedi n g i tems, wh erein a loading of the group IV-VI comTpounnd is 0. 7-1 m g per cu bic cen timeter of th e thre'-d-cimensiona1 graphene network.

The electrode a ccording to one of the preceding i tems, wherein th e th ree- dimensi onal graphene formls a binder- fr ee inter conne cted poro u s ne t work.

The electrode accordi ng to one of the preceding items, wherein th e g roup IV-VI co mp ound is tin di sul fide an d th e tra ns itio n metal group VI co mpo und is moly bdenu m di sul fide or tungsten d isulfide.

A lithium-i on bat ter y comprisin g an electrode according to one of the preceding i tems, t he lithium-ion battery fu rther comrpri sin g a cas in g with a first ter m inal and a second t erm ina l, a counter e l ectr o de a nd an electrol yte, the elect rolyte c o ntaining lithium ions, wherein the el ectrod e, the counter e lec t rode and the el ect r olyte are provi ded in the casing, the electrode is connected to a fir st terminal, the counter electrode is connected to the second terminal, and the electrolyte is in contact with the electrode and with the counter electrode.

A method of produ cing an electrode for a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising-depositing a carbon compound on a porous metal scaffold by c hemi cal vapor deposition to obtain a three- dimens ion a l gr aphene,-bring ing a g roup IV compound into contact with the three- di mensional graphene, the g roup IV compound comprisin g tin, germanium or silicon,-sub j ecting the group IV compound and the three- di mensional graphene to a hydrothermal t reatment to obtain a g rou p IV-VI compo u nd surface structure on the three- d imensional gr aphene,-bringing a transition metal group V I compound into contact with t he three- d imensional graphene,-subjectin g the transition metal group VI compound and the three-dimensi onal gr aphene with the gro up IV -VI compo u nd surface structure to a hydrot hermal treatment to obtain a transition metal group V I compound s urf ace structure on the g roup I V-VI compound surface structure.

The method according to item 10, wherein the preparation of the three-dimensional graphe ne comprises flowin g a mixture of argon and ethanol over a nickel foam, coolin g the reaction product, et chi ng away the nickel foam.

The method acco rd ing to it em 10 or item ii, wherein the p repara ti on of the group I V-VI compound on t he t h ree- di ensiona l o raphene co mprises providinog a mixture of a grouo IV tetrachioride, water, tn ioace amri de and sod ium d odec yl sulfate i n e t hanol, the group IV tetrachloride bein g selected from in tetrachlori d e, ge r man ium tetrach l oride and silico n tetrachloride, bring ing t he mixture and the three-dime n sio nal graohene to get her, l ettin g the mi xtur e and the three-di m ens i ona l gra p hene react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite m 10 to 12, wher-ein the preparaci on of the transition m eta l groUp VI compound on the three-dimensl ona l graphene comp rises providing a mixtur e of a group VI ami no acid a nd s odium transition metal compound i n water and et hanol, th e group Vi ami no acid being s el ected from L -cy stei ne, selenocystei ne and se ri ne, bringing p ieces of the three-di m ensiona l graphene w ith the rooUp IV-VI surface structure and the mi xture togeth er, I ett ing t he th ree-dimens or al grahe-,n-ea wi t h the groun IV VI compoun d surfa ce str uct u re and t he mixtu re react.

The m ethod according to one of the ite ms 10 to 13 comprising drying the electrode m ateria l at a t em peratu re above 100 C.

A method for p rod uci ng a li thium-ion ba tter y compris ing producing an el ect rode accordi nc to o ne of t he i tems 10 to 14, t he meth od f urther compr isi ng providing a co unte r eiectroo e and a me m bra ne, inseramng the electrode, t h e membrane and the coun ter electrode into a casing of the coin ce ii, filling an electro l yte into the casing of the lithium- ion battery, cl osin g the casin g of the l ithiu m -ion battery. Claims What is claimed is: