Facile synthesis of yolk-shell MoO sub(2) microspheres with excellent electrochemical performance as a Li-ion battery anode

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2013-05, Vol.1 (23), p.6858-6864
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xianfa, Song, Xiaoxiao, Gao, Shan, Xu, Yingming, Cheng, Xiaoli, Zhao, Hui, Huo, Lihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Density; Discharge; Electrochemical analysis; Lithium-ion batteries; Microspheres; Nanocrystals; Shells; Sustainability
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c3ta10399d

In this paper, a facile and template-free solvothermal method has been developed to synthesize yolk-shell MoO sub(2) microspheres. The as-synthesized MoO sub(2) microspheres are composed of both a uniform porous shell of 80 nm in thickness and a porous core constructed from primary MoO sub(2) nanocrystal clusters of 20 nm in size. Importantly, the unique yolk-shell MoO sub(2) microspheres exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. At a current density of 50 mA g super(-1), they can deliver a high specific capacity of 955 mA h g super(-1) in the first discharge and retain a reversible capacity of 847.5 mA h g super(-1) after 50 cycles. Meanwhile, even at a high current density of 2000 mA g super(-1), they also exhibit a specific capacity of 450 mA h g super(-1). This superior electrochemical performance of the as-synthesized MoO sub(2) microspheres could be ascribed to their special yolk-shell structure, which could not only provide short Li-ion and electron pathways, but also accommodate large volume variation.