Electrostatic Assembly of Sandwich-like Ag-C@ZnO-C@Ag-C Hybrid Hollow Microspheres with Excellent High-Rate Lithium Storage Properties

Abstract

Herein, we introduce a facile electrostatic attraction approach to produce zinc-silver citrate hollow microspheres, followed by thermal heating treatment in argon to ingeniously synthesize sandwich-like Ag-C@ZnO-C@Ag-C hybrid hollow microspheres. The 3D carbon conductive framework in the hybrids derives from the in situ carbonation of carboxylate acid groups in zinc-silver citrate hollow microspheres during heating treatment, and the continuous and homogeneous Ag nanoparticles on the outer and inner surfaces of hybrid hollow microspheres endow the shells with the sandwiched configuration (Ag-C@ZnO-C@Ag-C). When applied as the anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the fabricated hybrid hollow microspheres with sandwich-like shells reveal a very large reversible capacity of 1670 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g(-1). Even at the very large current densities of 1.6 and 10.0 A g(-1), the high specific capacities of about 1063 and 526 mAh g(-1) can be retained, respectively. The greatly enhanced electrochemical properties of Ag-C@ZnO-C@Ag-C hybrid microspheres are attributed to their special structural features such as the hollow structures, the sandwich-like shells, and the nanometer-sized building blocks.

3D Ordered Macroporous Carbon Encapsulated ZnO Nanoparticles as a High‐Performance Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…Specific capacity of ZnO/3DOMC gradually increases exhibiting a value of 673 mAh g −1 after 300 cycles. A phenomenon of a gradual capacity increase upon cycling was also observed for other metal oxide composites, which was attributed to reversible formation of a polymer/gel‐like film on the electroactive particle and its decomposition during the Li + insertion‐extraction process . The porous structure of 3DOMC offers an enhanced adsorption of lithium ions upon cycling and increase of the active sites with time due to the electrolyte infiltration, both resulting in the capacity increase .…”

Ion‐ and Electron‐Conductive Buffering Layer‐Modified Si Film for Use as a High‐Rate Long‐Term Lithium‐Ion Battery Anode

“…Four palpable cathodic peaks and three anodic peaks were detected in the first cycle in both the CV curve of SZC–M (70/5/10 nm) and SZ–M (70/5 nm). The cathodic peak near 0.72 V is caused by the generation of a SEI layer due to the decomposition of electrolyte . The peak around 0.43 V is ascribed to the conversion reaction between ZnO and Li + to form Zn and Li 2 O, and the one located at 0.2 V is due to the subsequent alloying reaction between Zn and Li + to generate LiZn alloys as well as the formation of Li x Si alloys .…”

Improved Specific Capacity of Nb2O5 by Coating on Carbon Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…Theoretically, the carbon conductive frameworks can enhance the electrochemical conductivity of Nb 2 O 5 electrode, improve the structural stability of electrode, and suppress the aggregation of nanoparticles during the discharge/charge process . However, the conductivity of Nb 2 O 5 /3DOM carbon composite is inferior to that of Nb 2 O 5 /rGO composite, in view of that the transfer resistance of the former is bigger than that of the latter (Table ).…”