Facile synthesis of nanocrystalline-assembled bundle-like CuO nanostructure with high rate capacities and enhanced cycling stability as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In this work, nanocrystalline-assembled bundle-like CuO structures were successfully synthesized in large-quantity by a friendly, facile two-step process. The bundle-like CuO particles are produced by thermolysis of bundle-like Cu(OH) 2 precursors, which exhibit excellent high specific capacity, high stability, and especially high rate performance for anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, superior to that of most reported CuO-based anodes. The assembled structure of CuO endows it with high rate capacities of 666 mAh g À1 , 609 mAh g À1 , and 499 mAh g À1 at a current rate of 0.3 C, 1 C and 2 C after 50 cycles, respectively. Even at a high rate of 6 C, the bundle-like CuO can still deliver a capacity of 361 mAh g À1 . It is observed that the electrochemical performance of the nanocrystalline-assembled bundle-like CuO is much better than that of CuO nanoparticles obtained by destroying the assembled bundle-like CuO through grinding. XRD analysis of both the electrodes after ending the discharge/ charge proved that during the discharge/charge process, the conversion reactions occurring in the assembled structures have better reversibility, leading to the high rate capacity and cycling performances. The better reversibility originates from the better contact area for CuO/electrolyte, enhancing many sites to the access of Li + in the electrolyte Li + . In addition, the assembled bundle-like CuO architectures can also relieve the volume variations during the Li + uptake-release process, which also contributes to the excellent electrochemical performance. The high rate capacity and enhanced cycling stability of the bundle-like CuO structure make it a promising candidate as an anode material for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

A Facile Route to Flowerlike Bi2S3 Constructed by Polycrystalline Nanoplates with Enhanced Electrochemical Properties

“…It can be seen that the growth process from nanoparticles to hierarchical flowerlike crystals happens over an extremely short period of time. Similar phenomena can be observed in the growth process of spindlelike YF 3 .…”

Integrated Solid/Nanoporous Copper/Oxide Hybrid Bulk Electrodes for High-performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…This further highlights the merits of S/NP Cu architecture in the high-performance lithium storage of S/NP Cu/MnO 2 hybrid electrodes. To assess the contribution of total capacity from oxides that are produced from the oxidation of NP Cu skeleton2930313233343536 and the remaining Mn in KMnO 4 solution26, the charge/discharge profiles of bare and KMnO 4 -treated NP Cu foils are measured at the same conditions (Supplementary Figs. S15 and S16).…”

“…Since the original work of Poizot et al 7, nanomaterials of metal oxides, such as MnO 2 25262728 and copper oxides (Cu 2 O and CuO)2930313233343536, have been intensively studied as anode materials for Li-ion batteries due to their high abundance, low cost and environmental benignity, demonstrating the strong dependence of electrochemical performances on particle size and morphology of precursors71925262728293031323334. Although there is an optimum precursor for each metal oxide system to show good capacity retention71934, their poor electronic conductivity (for example, MnO 2 and CuO in ~10 −5 –10 −6 and ~10 −2  S cm −1 , respectively)1737, large volume expansion and low energy efficiency during repeated lithium cycling processes limits the potential applications in practical Li-ion batteries11923252627282930313233343536. To improve their electron transport and cycling performance, there have been initial explorations on developing composite electrodes by employing conductive agents, such as metal pillars23 or substrates35, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)81038 and nanohorns39, graphene94041, to serve as conductive pathways of metal oxides.…”

Facile fabrication of three-dimensional hierarchical CuO nanostructures with enhanced lithium storage capability

“…After 30 cycles, CuO exhibits a high discharge 5 capacity of 873.3 mAh g -1 , which is much higher than the theoretical capacity and that of previously reported CuO nanostructures. [17][18][19]32 The extra initial discharge capacity could be mainly ascribed to the formation of the SEI layer during the first discharge process at a low voltage (0.02~1.0 V). The SEI 10 layer is a poly-meric gel-like film including organic layer and inorganic layer.…”