A Convenient Synthesis Route for Co3O4 Hollow Microspheres and Their Application as a High Performing Anode in Li-Ion Batteries

Padalingam Gurunathan; Pedda Masthanaiah Ette; Narayanan Lakshminarasimhan; Kannadka Ramesha

doi:10.1021/acsomega.7b01294

A Convenient Synthesis Route for Co₃O₄ Hollow Microspheres and Their Application as a High Performing Anode in Li-Ion Batteries

ACS Omega. 2017 Nov 7;2(11):7647-7657. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.7b01294. eCollection 2017 Nov 30.

Authors

Padalingam Gurunathan¹, Pedda Masthanaiah Ette^{1

2}, Narayanan Lakshminarasimhan^{2

2}, Kannadka Ramesha^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ CSIR-Network of Institutes for Solar Energy (CSIR-NISE), CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute-Madras Unit, CSIR-Madras Complex, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India.
² Functional Materials Division and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi 630003, India.

Abstract

A new, rapid, and cost-effective method for synthesizing hollow microspheres (HMSs) of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) using the phloroglucinol-formaldehyde gel route is reported here. Further, the synthesized hollow Co₃O₄ microspheres were investigated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The Co₃O₄ hollow spheres exhibited excellent electrochemical performance and cycling stability, for example, a capacity of 915 mA h g^-1 was obtained at 1 C rate over 350 cycles. The material also exhibited good performance at high rates, viz., capacities of 500, 350, and 250 mA h g^-1 at 10 C, 25 C, and 50 C, respectively, with good capacity retention over 500 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance of Co₃O₄ can be ascribed to the porous nanoarchitecture that provides a short diffusion length for Li⁺ ions and high electrolyte percolation in the porous structure. Additionally, the thin porous wall of the nanocages provides an effective way to overcome the issues associated with the volume change occurring during Li charge/discharge. The conversion of Co₃O₄ into Co upon discharge was also probed by measuring the magnetic properties.