Solvent-controlled synthesis of Ni-PTA MOFs as high performance anode material for Li-ion batteries.

Metal-organic frameworks are recognized as active electrode materials for rechargeable batteries due to their structural diversity, abundant electrochemical active sites and large ion diffusion channels. Herein, nickel-terephthalic acid metal-organic frameworks (Ni-PTA MOFs) with different crystal and morphology structures are synthesized via a facile solvothermal method by simply adjusting the nature of solvent. Due to the fewest guest molecules and porous structure, the Ni-PTA resulting from the combinations of DMF and EtOH exhibits the comparatively higher chemical/thermal stability and shortened ion diffusion pathway. As a result, it exhibits a high discharge/charge capacity of 2196.4 and 1762.3 mAh g−1 at the first cycle and retains 1300 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 100 mA g−1 when tested as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. Even when the current density reaches 4000 mA g−1, it maintains a capacity of 452 mAh g−1. This work provides possibilities for regulating the crystal and morphology structure of MOFs as high performance anode materials for lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]