Field-Assisted Formation of NH4CoF3 Mesocrystals toward Hierarchical Co3O4 Cuboids as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Porous NH4CoF3 mesocrystalline cuboids with highly exposed {100} facets are grown by in situ reaction of products produced by high field anodization of cobalt metal foil, via a nonclassical crystallization process involving oriented particle aggregation. 3D nano-micro hierarchical Co3O4 cuboids are obtained by thermal annealing of NH4CoF3 mesocrystals. The microstructure and morphology of products are characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The combination of small nanoparticle subunits, micrometer-sized overall particles, and porous structure provides the obtained hierarchical Co3O4 cuboids with large electrolyte-electrode contact areas, channels for large lithium ion flux, pore accessibility, and structural stability, leading to excellent rate and cyclic performance as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes.

Automated summary

Hierarchical nanocrystalline cuboids with large electrolyte-electrode contact areas, channels, and pore accessibility were synthesized by a nonclassical crystallization process and thermal annealing, exhibiting excellent performance as lithium-ion battery anodes.