Over the past decades, a worldwide effort has been made to search for alternative anode materials of lithium batteries for improving their energy density and safety.[1] It has been found that 3d transition metal oxides such as nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, and iron oxide exhibit reversible capacities about three times larger than those of graphite (372 mAh g -1

Ni-coated ZnO was prepared by electroless nickel plating as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The microstructure of the Ni-coated ZnO was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the anodes were measured by galvanostatic charge-discharge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the Ni-coated ZnO delivered a higher reversible discharge capacity ͑490 mAh g −1 ͒ than the raw ZnO ͑130 mAh g −1 ͒, exhibited good cyclability, and the initial coulombic efficiency of the ZnO was significantly improved after coating ͑from 49.5% to 75%͒. The presence of the nickel membrane plays three important roles in the improvement of initial coulombic efficiency and the cycling performance of ZnO. First, nickel as a conductor can improve the high rate properties of ZnO. Second, nickel acts as a buffer to alleviate the stress during cycling. Third, nickel also has the catalytic activity to facilitate Li 2 O decomposition.

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