Copper ferrites@reduced graphene oxide anode materials for advanced lithium storage applications

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 21;7(1):8903. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09214-0.

Abstract

Copper ferrites are emerging transition metal oxides that have potential applications in energy storage devices. However, it still lacks in-depth designing of copper ferrites based anode architectures with enhanced electroactivity for lithium-ion batteries. Here, we report a facile synthesis technology of copper ferrites anchored on reduced graphene oxide (CuFeO2@rGO and Cu/CuFe2O4@rGO) as the high-performance electrodes. In the resulting configuration, reduced graphene offers continuous conductive channels for electron/ion transfer and high specific surface area to accommodate the volume expansion of copper ferrites. Consequently, the sheet-on-sheet CuFeO2@rGO electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity (587 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1). In particular, Cu/CuFe2O4@rGO hybrid, which combines the advantages of nano-copper and reduced graphene, manifests a significant enhancement in lithium storage properties. It reveals superior rate capability (723 mAh g-1 at 800 mA g-1; 560 mAh g-1 at 3200 mA g-1) and robust cycling capability (1102 mAh g-1 after 250 cycles at 800 mA g-1). This unique structure design provides a strategy for the development of multivalent metal oxides in lithium storage device applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't