General synthesis of multi-shelled mixed metal oxide hollow spheres with superior lithium storage properties

• Main Authors: Zhang, Genqiang, Lou, David Xiong Wen
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105252; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/20519; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201404604
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Complex hollow structures of transition metal oxides, especially mixed metal oxides, could be promising for different applications such as lithium ion batteries. However, it remains a great challenge to fabricate well-defined hollow spheres with multiple shells for mixed transition metal oxides. Herein, we have developed a new “penetration–solidification–annealing” strategy which can realize the synthesis of various mixed metal oxide multi-shelled hollow spheres. Importantly, it is found that multi-shelled hollow spheres possess impressive lithium storage properties with both high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability. Specifically, the carbon-coated CoMn2O4 triple-shelled hollow spheres exhibit a specific capacity of 726.7 mA h g−1 and a nearly 100 % capacity retention after 200 cycles. The present general strategy could represent a milestone in design and synthesis of mixed metal oxide complex hollow spheres and their promising uses in different areas.