Unveiling multi-channelled 3D porous iron oxide nanostructures with exalted capacity towards high-performance Li-ion battery applications

Recently, multifunctional and highly porous transition metal oxide-based anode materials have attracted increasing attention in enabling the high capacity and stability for lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications. Herein, an ingenious and facile approach has been developed to prepare three-dimensional (3D) porous and spindle-like alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures with controlled morphologies and they are used as an effective anode in LIBs. The morphology of the spindle-like alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures was systematically tuned concerning the growth temperatures of 160,180 and 200 degrees C and they are denoted as FO-160, FO-180 and FO-200, respectively. Owing to the high surface area and porosity, 3D porous FO-180-based LIB exhibited a better cycle performance and good rate capability compared to the FO-160 and FO-20 0 electrodes. To be specific, the FO-180 electrode delivered a maximum discharge capacity of 965 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 500 mA g(-1) over 150 cycles, which is comparatively higher than the FO-160 (598 mAh g(-1)) for and FO-200 and (405 mAh g(-1)) electrodes, respectively. The outstanding electrochemical characteristics in terms of reversibility and rate performance of spindle-like alpha-Fe2O3 nanostructures are attributed to the 3D porous structure with a large surface area of the sample. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.