α-Fe2O3@C nanorings as anode materials for high performance lithium ion batteries

α-Fe2O3@C core–shell nanorings are prepared by a facile large-scale two-step route incorporating a hydrothermal method and a carbon coated progress. Its structure and morphology are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, and thermogravimetry. It is found that the as-prepared composite is composed of α-Fe2O3@C nanorings of about 148 nm in outer diameter, 50 nm in thickness, and 115 nm in length. These α-Fe2O3@C nanorings are enwrapped with ∼3 nm thick carbon shell. And the electrodes exhibit longer cycle life (815 mAhg−1 after cycling 160 times) at high current rate (1000 mAg−1) compared with that of bare α-Fe2O3 nanorings (810 mAhg−1 after cycling 30 times). The improved performance of the composite is attributed to the bondage from carbon shell, which can enhance the electronic conductivity and structural stability of α-Fe2O3 nanorings.