Highly reversible Co₃O₄/graphene hybrid anode for lithium rechargeable batteries

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P><P><ce:figure id='f0045'></ce:figure></P><P><B>Research highlights</B></P><P>► Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene hybrid is fabricated using a simple in situ reduction process. ► The hybrid consists of 5nm size Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> particles uniformly dispersed on graphene. ► The hybrid showed excellent electrochemical performance as an anode.</P> <P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>A Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene hybrid material was fabricated using a simple in situ reduction process and demonstrated as a highly reversible anode for lithium rechargeable batteries. The hybrid is composed of 5nm size Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> particles uniformly dispersed on graphene, as observed by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene anode can deliver a capacity of more than 800mAhg<SUP>−1</SUP> reversibly at a 200mAg<SUP>−1</SUP> rate in the voltage range between 3.0 and 0.001V. The high reversible capacity is retained at elevated current densities. At a current rate as high as 1000mAg<SUP>−1</SUP>, the Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene anode can deliver more than 550mAhg<SUP>−1</SUP>, which is significantly higher than the capacity of current commercial graphite anodes. The superior electrochemical performance of the Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene is attributed to its unique nanostructure, which intimately combines the conductive graphene network with uniformly dispersed nano Co<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> particles.</P>