Coral-like Metal Oxide/C Hybrid Microspheres Comprising a Porous Yolk and a Hollow Thin-Shell for Anodes in Li Ion Batteries

摘要

Nowadays, innovative anodes are in demand owing to the requirement for improvement in the performance of Li ion batteries (LIBs). Although yolk-shell structured transitional metal oxides (TMOs) with various compositions have been studied as anodes for LIBs thus far, their long-term cycle properties are unsatisfactory in practical implementation. In order to solve this problem, hybrids of TMOs and C could be a effective strategy, but with the traditional synthetic process for the yolk-shell structure, it is difficult to prepare the yolk-shell structured TMO/C hybrid. In this study, we introduce a novel synthetic strategy for the yolk-shell structured TMO/C hybrids. The yolk shows a coral-like structure with interconnected mesopores. The synergetic effects of the coral-like yolk-shell structure with well-defined interconnected mesopores and a highly conductive C content result in advanced anodes with excellent Li~+ ion storage properties. The detailed formation mechanism of the structure and its electrochemical properties as anodes for LIBs were investigated, in detail.