Co3O4 hollow nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous walls of carbon nanoboxes for efficient lithium storage

• Main Authors: Huang, Yi, Fang, Yongjin, Lu, Xue Feng, Luan, Deyan, Lou, David Xiong Wen
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials; Engineering::Chemical engineering; Hollow Structures; Metal-organic Frameworks
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/147392
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Confining nanostructured electrode materials in porous carbon represents an effective strategy for improving the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of hybrid hollow nanostructures composed of highly dispersed Co3 O4 hollow nanoparticles (sub-20 nm) embedded in the mesoporous walls of carbon nanoboxes (denoted as H-Co3 O4 @MCNBs) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The facile metal-organic framework (MOF)-engaged strategy for the synthesis of H-Co3 O4 @MCNBs involves chemical etching-coordination and subsequent two-step annealing treatments. Owing to the unique structural merits including more active interfacial sites, effectively alleviated volume variation, good and stable electrical contact, and easy access of Li+ ions, the H-Co3 O4 @MCNBs exhibit excellent lithium-storage performance in terms of high specific capacity, excellent rate capability, and cycling stability.