ZnFe2O4 as an anode that is believed to attractive. Due to its large theoretical capacity, this electrode is ideal for Lithium-ion batteries. However, the performance of ZnFe2O4 while charging and discharging is limited by its volume growth. In the present study, carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 is synthesized by the sol-gel method. Carbon is coated on the spherical surface of ZnFe2O4 by in situ coating. In situ carbon coating alleviates volume expansion during electrochemical performance and Lithium-ion mobility is accelerated, and electron transit is accelerated; thus, carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 show good electrochemical performance. After 50 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A·g-1, the battery had a discharge capacity of 1312 mAh·g-1 and a capacity of roughly 1220 mAh·g-1. The performance of carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 as an improved anode is electrochemically used for Li-ion energy storage applications.
Keywords: Li-ion storage; anode material; carbon-coated; sol–gel; zinc ferrate.