Hierarchical porous stratified texture and enhanced lithium-ion storage performance of Co3O4 modified by nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxides

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2019-02, Vol.774, p.236-243
• Main Authors: Jing, Panpan, Wang, Peifeng, Liu, Mengting, Gao, Wensheng, Cui, Yongfei, Wang, Zhuo, Pu, Yongping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Co3O4; Lithium-ions batteries; N-doped reduced graphene oxide; Porous architecture
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.09.352

Choosing, designing and preparing the alternative electrode materials are of highly urgent for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in sustainable energy storage fields. Herein, a novel and well-dispersive hierarchical porous stratified texture of Co3O4 modified by nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxides (N-rGO/Co3O4) microplates are successfully synthesized via a reproducible and mass-produced route. The N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates are hierarchically self-assembled by a few porous thin nanoflakes and the N-rGO is uniformly permeated into Co3O4 matrix. As an anode material for LIBs, the N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates deliver a high initial discharge capacity of 1890 mAh·g−1 at 1 A g−1 with a Coulombic efficiency as high as 77.6%. During the 1000 charging-discharging cycles, the capacities and Coulombic efficiencies maintain at 1000 mAh·g−1 and 99.6%. Even the current density is increased to 2 A g−1, the electrode still delivers a stable capacity of 770 mAh·g−1 for 500 cycles. Moreover, the rate performance is highly superior. Such an advanced Li ions storage of the N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates is mainly due to the modification of small quantity N-rGO improving the electric conductivity without sacrificing the capacity of Co3O4 and the hierarchical porous stratified texture. Hence, the hierarchical porous N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates and synthetic strategy can be applied for next-generation LIBs in the near future. [Display omitted] •N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates are obtained by a reproducible and mass-produced route.•Traces of N-rGO can boost the conductivity without lowering the capacity of Co3O4.•The 1st Coulombic efficiency of N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates is up to 77.6% at 1 A g−1.•N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates can deliver enormous capacities at high current densities.•N-rGO/Co3O4 microplates perform a stable cycling and superior rate performance.