Iron Oxide Nanoparticle and Graphene Nanoribbon Composite as an Anode Material for High- Performance Li-Ion Batteries

A composite material made of graphene nanoribbons and iron oxide nanoparticles provides a remarkable route to lithium-ion battery anode with high specific capacity and cycle stability. At a rate of 100 mA/g, the material exhibits a high discharge capacity of similar to 910 mAh/g after 134 cycles, which is >90% of the theoretical li-ion storage capacity of iron oxide. Carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene flakes have been employed by researchers to achieve conductivity and stability in lithium-ion electrode materials. Herein, the use of graphene nanoribbons as a conductive platform on which iron oxide nanoparticles are formed combines the advantages of long carbon nanotubes and flat graphene surfaces. The high capacity over prolonged cycling achieved is due to the synergy between an electrically percolating networks of conductive graphene nanoribbons and the high lithium-ion storage capability of iron oxide nanoparticles.