Synthesis of Porous NiO-Wrapped Graphene Nanosheets and Their Improved Lithium Storage Properties

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C 2013-11, Vol.117 (46), p.24121-24128
• Main Authors: Xie, Dong, Su, Qingmei, Yuan, Weiwei, Dong, Zimin, Zhang, Jun, Du, Gaohui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Annealing; Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Heat treatment; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Porous materials; granular materials; Production techniques; Specific materials
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp4054814

This article reports a facile preparation of NiO–graphene composite by the combination of a solution-based method and subsequent annealing. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy reveals that the graphene nanosheets are uniformly wrapped by porous NiO nanosheets in the product. The composite shows highly improved electrochemical performance as anode for Li–ion batteries (LIBs). The NiO–graphene nanosheets deliver a first discharge capacity of 2169.6 mAh g–1 and remain a reversible capacity up to 704.8 mAh g–1 after 50 cycles at a current of 200 mA g–1 in half cells. Contrarily, the pristine NiO nanosheets show only a reversible capacity of 134 mA g–1 after 50 cycles. The NiO–graphene composite also exhibits ameliorative rate capacity of 402.6 mAh g–1 at the current of 1600 mA g–1. In particular, these novel nanostructured composites show exceptional capacity retention in the assembled NiO–graphene/LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 full cell at different current density. The enhanced electrochemical performances are ascribed to the stable sheet-on-sheet architectures and the synergistic effects between the conductive graphene and thin porous NiO nanosheets.