Synthesis of carbon nanotube (CNT)-entangled CuO nanotube networks via CNT-catalytic growth and in situ thermal oxidation as additive-free anodes for lithium ion batteries

摘要

We demonstrated the utility of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a catalyst and conductive agent to synthesize CNT-entangled copper nanowire (CuNW-CNT) networks within a melted mixture of hexadecylamine and cetyltrimethy ammounium bromide. The CuNW-CNT networks were further in situ thermally oxidized into CuO nanotube-CNT (CuONT-CNT) with the high retention of network structure. The binder-and conducting-additive-free anodes constructed using the CuONT-CNT networks exhibited high performance, such as high capability (557.7 mAh g(-1) at 0.2 degrees C after 200 cycles), high Coulombic efficiency (near 100%), good rate performance (385.5 mAh g(-1) at 5 degrees C and 310.3 mAh g(-1) at 10 degrees C), and long cycling life.