CuO/polypyrrole core-shell nanocomposites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

One-dimensional core-shell CuO/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites are synthesized by employing CuO nanobelts as new wire-templates. Incorporation of flexible conducting polymers into the CuO nanobelts leads to improved stability, electric conductivity and electrochemical performance. When evaluated as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the novel CuO/PPy nanocomposites exhibit a high initial capacity of 991 mAh g(-1) and retain a good reversible value of 613 mAh g(-1) over 80 cycles, which are much better than those of the bare CuO nanobelts. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.