Rusted iron wire waste into high performance anode (alpha-Fe2O3) for Li-ion batteries: an efficient waste management approach

Superior Li-storage properties are reported for interconnected alpha-Fe2O3 derived from iron based wires collected from waste i.e. building supplies or scrap. An interconnected morphology is acquired without the addition of any surfactant or shape controlling agent. We also explore the possibility of employing such a material as a potential low cost conversion type anode for the fabrication of Li-ion cells with a LiMn2O4 cathode. Remarkably, alpha-Fe2O3 displayed a capacity of similar to 1119 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 0.05 A g(-1) in a half-cell configuration. Good cyclability is also noted, for example alpha-Fe2O3 delivered similar to 800 mA h g(-1) after 215 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g(-1). The irreversible capacity loss of the alpha-Fe2O3 anode has been effectively circumvented by an electrochemical pre-lithiation process and the anode is eventually paired with the eco-friendly cathode, LiMn2O4. The full-cell, LiMn2O4/alpha-Fe2O3 delivered the initial reversible capacity of similar to 737 mA h g(-1) with similar to 78% retention after 40 cycles. This efficient waste management system with a gram scale synthesis procedure for alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles indeed paved the way for developing high performance Li-ion power packs for high energy requirements.