Fe3O4 submicron spheroids as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries with stable and high electrochemical performance

A magnetite (Fe3O4) powder composed of uniform sub-micrometer spherical particles has been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method at low temperature. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and galvanostatic cell cycling are employed to characterize the structure and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared Fe3O4 spheroids. The magnetite shows a stable and reversible capacity of over 900 mAh g(-1) during up to 60 cycles and good rate capability. The experimental results suggest that the Fe3O4 synthesized by this method is a promising anode material for high energy-density lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.