Facile Synthesis of Co₃O₄-Graphene Composite as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries With Enhanced Reversible Capacity and Cyclic Performance

Abstract

Using a hydrothermal method, a composite of Co₃O₄ supported on graphene nanosheets (Co₃O₄-GNs) was prepared. Morphological characterization revealed that the Co₃O₄ nanoparticles with a size of 100–200 nm were dispersed randomly on the planes of GNs. As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, Co₃O₄-GNs composite shows an improved electrochemical performance in the initial coulombic efficiency (57%), reversible capacity (657 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at a current of 50 mA g⁻¹) and cycling stability, which is much better than bare Co₃O₄ and GNs electrodes. The superior results can be attributed to high surface area and good electronic conductivity of GNs.

Keywords:

• Co₃O₄ nanoparticles
• graphene nanosheets
• anode materials
• lithium-ion batteries

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the financial support of the International Cooperation Research Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21061130551), the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (No. 2012JQ6019), the Foundation of the Education Committee of Shaanxi Province (Nos. 12JS096), the National Innovation Experiment Program for University Students (No. 201210697012), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (J1210057, J1103311).