A corn-inspired structure design for an iron oxide fiber/reduced graphene oxide composite as a high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries. Issue 71 (19th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cai, Jianxin; Zhao, Pengfei; Li, Zhipeng; Li, Wei; Zhong, Jing; Yu, Ji; Yang, Zhenyu
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 71(2017)
• Page Start: 44874
• Page End: 44883
• Publication Date: 2017-09-19
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra08846a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : A porous iron oxide fiber/reduced graphene oxide composite with a corn-inspired structure design as a high-performance anode material for li-ion batteries. Abstract : In this paper, we successfully synthesized iron oxide (Fe2 O3 ) fiber/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with a "corn" structure by an electrospinning technique assisted by annealing treatment and a far infrared reduction process. The special structure consists of Fe2 O3 fibers as the "corncob" completely protected by multilayer rGO as the "sepal". Natural void space between the Fe2 O3 fibers and rGO allows for the expansion of Fe2 O3 upon lithiation; the good surface area and unblocked channels in the Fe2 O3 fiber facilitates fast diffusion of Li + . An electrode with such structure shows excellent capacity (1085.2 mA h g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 ), and cycle life (407.8 mA h g −1 at 5 A g −1 for 1500 cycles with good coulombic efficiency). This is the longest cycle life for Fe2 O3 -based anode materials with excellent rate capability ( e.g., >400 mA h g −1 at 5 A h g −1 ). In addition to Fe2 O3, this "corn" structure can also be applied to other high capacity anode materials for next generation Li-ion batteries to improve cycle life and coulombic efficiency.