Carbon nanotube reinforced NiO fibers for rechargeable lithium batteries

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) reinforced NiO fibers with diameter smaller than 50 nm have successfully been prepared by electrospinning method combined with calcination. The SWNTs homogeneously distributed in the NiO fibers were characterized by high resolved transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Charge and discharge data showed that 3D network structures of NiO-SWNTs fibers exhibited a relatively higher reversible capacity and lower capacity loss than that of NiO at the charge and discharge current density of 2C, and its discharge capacity was about 337 mAh/g after 20 cycles. Our results demonstrated that the SWNTs reinforced fibers had a better cycling performance at large charge and discharge current densities. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.