Axial compressive α-Fe2O3 microdisks prepared from CSS template for potential anode materials of lithium ion batteries

In this paper, alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks (similar to 1.1 mu m in diameter, similar to 150 nm in thickness) have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using a novel NaNO3-Na2SO4 crystal salts solution (CSS) containing CNTs fragments as template. Interestingly, the synthesized alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks exhibit a unique axial compressive property. The small-sized CNTs fragments in alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks could act as a robust framework for such assemblies and endow them the axial compressive property. Owing to the existence of CNTs fragments, the alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks are not easily destroyed. AFM results indicate that the alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks could be compressed to 10-50 times than the original thickness. Electrochemical studies show that the synthesized alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks exhibited good cyclic stability and rate performance. The alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks electrode delivers a reversible specific capacity of 632 mA h g(-1) even at a high rate of 800 mA g(-1). When returning to the initial rate of 100 mA g(-1,) the alpha-Fe2O3 a microdisks electrode returns to a higher capacity (968 mA h g(-1)). The unique axial compressive property of alpha-Fe2O3 microdisks endows that they could alleviate the pulverization and structural destruction of electrodes during the lithium ion insertion and extraction process. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.