Microwave-assisted synthesis of CuC2O4•xH2O for anode materials in lithium-ion batteries with a high capacity

Two CuC2O4 center dot xH(2)O-based anode materials with nanoscale microtopography were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal and solvothermal methods at 120 degrees C. These two compounds exhibit the higher electrochemical performance compared with other transition metal oxalate-based materials in lithium-ion batteries. The charge-discharge test results reveal that the electrochemical properties of copper oxalate hydrate are significantly better than those of the previous works without assistance of microwave. The quasi-spherical aggregates of CuC2O4 center dot xH(2)O (x similar to 0.14) possess the initial discharge capacity at 1436 mAh g(-1) and the residual capacity at 1260.4 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 200 mA g(-1). On the other hand, the quasi-cotton aggregates of CuC2O4 center dot xH(2)O (x similar to 0.49) possess the initial discharge capacity at 1689 mAh g(-1) and the residual capacity at 1181.1 mAh g(-1) under the same conditions.