The comparative lithium storage properties of urchin-like hematite spheres: hollow vs. solid

Urchin-like alpha-Fe2O3 spheres, hollow or solid, are obtained by thermally annealing their alpha-FeOOH precursor structures, which are synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The hollowness of these alpha-FeOOH spheres can be readily controlled by varying the glycerol concentration. The structure-dependent lithium storage properties of these alpha-Fe2O3 samples might shed light on the future development of advanced electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries.