Durable high-rate performance of CuO hollow nanoparticles/graphene-nanosheet composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract: Copper oxide hollow nanoparticles/graphene-nanosheet composites are prepared using the Kirkendall-effect approach. The composites exhibit a durable lifetime cycle at high rates. The reversible capacity of the material attains 640mAhg−1 at 50mAg−1 and the capacity retention is ca. 96% when the current density is increased 10 times. At 1Ag−1 (ca. 1.7C), the reversible capacity reaches 485mAhg−1 and remains at 281mAhg−1 after 500cycles, indicating that the capacity fading is less than 0.4mAhg−1 per cycle. This excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the hollow interior of CuO nanoparticles as well as synergistic effect between CuO and graphene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]