Encapsulating ZnO/Ni3ZnC0.7 into N-doped carbon nanofibers as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

• The ZnO/Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /NCNF nanofibers are prepared by a simple and fast method. • The ZnO/Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /NCNF anodes exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance. • The reaction processes are controlled by both diffusion and capacitance behavior. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) have the advantages of high theoretical capacities, environmental benignity, low cost and abundant supply. However, their applications as anodes for lithium-ion batteries are seriously limited for the intrinsically poor conductivity and inevitable volume variation. To solve such problems, ZnO/Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /NCNFs composite nanofibers are designed through electrospinning and subsequent thermal treatment. Herein, ZnO/Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in N-doped carbon nanofibers, which can greatly improve the conductivity and stability of active materials. When applied as anode materials, ZnO/Ni 3 ZnC 0.7 /NCNFs prepared at 600 °C shows the optimal electrochemical performance with the reversible specific capacity of 739.3 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]