Self-assembled multifunctional Fe3O4 hierarchical microspheres: high-efficiency lithium-ion battery materials and hydrogenation catalysts

Abstract

Self-assembled Fe 3 O 4 hierarchical microspheres (HMSs) were prepared by a one-pot synchronous reductionself-assembling (SRSA) hydrothermal method. In this simple and inexpensive synthetic process, only glycerol, water, and a single iron source (potassium ferricyanide (K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ])) were employed as reactants without additional reductants, surfactants, or additives. The iron source, K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ], and glycerol significantly affected the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 HMSs. Fe 3 O 4 HMSs with a self-assembled spherical shape readily functioned as high-performance anode materials for lithiumion batteries with a specific capacity of > 1000 mA h g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 after 270 cycles. Further charging and discharging results revealed that Fe 3 O 4 HMSs displayed good reversible performance (> 1000 mA h g −1 ) and cycling stability (700 cycles) at 0.5 A g −1 . Furthermore, as multifunctional materials, the as-obtained Fe 3 O 4 HMSs also exhibited high saturation magnetization (99.5 emu g −1 ) at room temperature (25°C) and could be further employed as efficient and magnetically recyclable catalysts for the hydrogenation of nitro compounds.

Integrated Design of Silkworm‐Chrysalis‐Net‐Like Fe3O4/rGO/Mesoporous Carbon Composites as a High‐Performance Anode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…The mesoscopic morphologies formed from the composites of Fe 3 O 4 and carbon materials include spheres, [22,23] octahedrons, [24] lines, [25,26] tubes, [27] flakes, [28] and sandwich structures. [29] In particular, forming a multilayered structure of Fe 3 O 4 , rGO, and a porous carbon layer can endow materials with unique properties.…”