ZnCo 2 O 4 /C microhydrangeas with controllable microstructure are successfully synthesized through a simple citrate-guided solvothermal method and following thermal decomposition. The experimental results reveal that the citratedirected self-regulation of Zn-Co-EG agglomerates play a critical role in the formation of the hydrangea-like precursors. When applied as anode material in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), ZnCo 2 O 4 /C microhydrangeas exhibited high available capacities of 964.6 mAh g −1 at 1 A g −1 after 200 cycles and 704.4 mAh g −1 at 4 A g −1 over 1000 cycles. The excellent reliability is attributed to the superior microstructure that provides many benefits including enhanced electron or ion transport and improved structure stability, etc. KEYWORDScitrate-assisted solvothermal process, composite pattern, cyclic reliability, high rate performance, lithium ion batteries, ZnCo 2 O 4 /C microhydrangeas

A new-type binder-free Sn/C composite membrane with densely stacked Sn-in-carbon nanosheets was prepared by vacuum-induced self-assembly of graphene-like Sn alkoxide and following in situ thermal conversion. The successful implementation of this rational strategy is based on the controllable synthesis of graphene-like Sn alkoxide by using Na−citrate with the critical inhibitory effect on polycondensation of Sn alkoxide along the a and b directions. Density functional theory calculations reveal that graphene-like Sn alkoxide can be formed under the joint action of oriented densification along the c axis and continuous growth along the a and b directions. The Sn/C composite membrane constructed by graphene-like Sn-in-carbon nanosheets can effectively buffer volume fluctuation of inlaid Sn during cycling and much enhance the kinetics of Li + diffusion and charge transfer with the developed ion/electron transmission paths. After temperature-controlled structure optimization, Sn/C composite membrane displays extraordinary Li storage behaviors, including reversible half-cell capacities up to 972.5 mAh g −1 at a density of 1 A g −1 for 200 cycles, 885.5/729.3 mAh g −1 over 1000 cycles at large current densities of 2/4 A g −1 , and terrific practicability with reliable fullcell capacities of 789.9/582.9 mAh g −1 up to 200 cycles under 1/4 A g −1 . It is worthy of noting that this strategy may open up new opportunities to fabricate advanced membrane materials and construct hyperstable self-supporting anodes in lithium ion batteries.

Flower-like CoP/C nanocomposites composed of CoP-in-carbon nanopetals are successfully synthesized through a simple acetate assisted solvothermal synthesis of Co-propanediol alkoxide nanoflowers and subsequent in-situ transformation. The experimental results reveal that...

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