Yolk-Shell Cu2O@CuO-decorated RGO for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anode

Based on the great advantages of an inner hollow structure and excellent solid counterpart capacity, complex hierarchical structures have been widely used as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Herein, hierarchical yolk-shell Cu2O@CuO-decorated RGO (YSRs) was designed and synthesized via a multi-step approach. Octahedron-like Cu2O-decorated RGO was firstly produced, in which GO was reduced slightly while cuprous oxide was synthesized. Subsequently, the controlled oxidation of Cu2O@RGO led to the synthesis of special YSRs, which were composed of a solid Cu2O core, spur-CuO, CuO shell, and RGO covered. As anode materials, YSRs could provide considerable capacity density. Meanwhile, the void existed between shells and solid active materials retaining the advantages of inner hollow structure. As a result, the unique architecture of the materials renders the composites with enhanced electronic and ionic diffusion kinetics, high specific capacity (similar to 894 mAh g(-1), 0.1C), and an excellent rate capability.

Automated summary

This study presents a hierarchical yolk-shell Cu2O@CuO-decorated RGO (YSR) structure with inner hollow and solid features, which shows enhanced electronic and ionic diffusion kinetics, high specific capacity, and excellent rate capability for lithium-ion battery electrodes.