3D Starfish‐Like FeOF on Graphene Sheets: Engineered Synthesis and Lithium Storage Performance

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2019-06, Vol.25 (32), p.7733-7739
• Main Authors: Zhai, Jingru, Lei, Zhengyu, Sun, Kening
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Decay rate; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; electrochemistry; Graphene; Ion transport; iron oxyfluoride; Lithium; nanostructures; self-assembly; Sheets; Structural stability; Thermal reduction
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201900948

To address the problems associated with poor conductivity and large volume variation in practical applications as a conversion cathode, engineering of hierarchical nanostructured FeOF coupled with conductive decoration is highly desired, yet rarely reported. Herein, 3D starfish‐like FeOF on reduced graphene oxide sheets (FeOF/rGO) is successfully prepared, for the first time, through a combination of solvothermal reaction, self‐assembly, and thermal reduction. Integrating the structural features of the 3D hierarchical nanostructure, which favorably shorten the path for electron/ion transport and alleviate volumetric changes, with those of graphene wrapping, which can further enhance the electrical conductivity and maintain the structural stability of the electrode, the as‐prepared FeOF/rGO composite exhibits a superior lithium‐storage performance, including a high reversible capacity (424.5 mA h−1 g−1 at 50 mA g−1), excellent stability (0.016 % capacity decay per cycle during 180 cycles), and remarkable rate capability (275.8 mA h−1 g−1 at 2000 mA g−1). Starry sheets: A iron oxyfluoride/graphene composite cathode designed to facilitate electron/ion transport and simultaneously buffer volume expansion is constructed through a combination of a solvothermal reaction, self‐assembly, and thermal reduction (see figure), which exhibits superior lithium‐storage performance.