MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co) nanoparticles anchored on amorphous carbon coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

One dimensional CNTs@C@MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co) composites have been rationally designed and fabricated via a facile solvothermal method and a calcination process. In the unique structure, amorphous carbon served as binder can increase the loading of MFe2O4 on CNTs and strengthened the binding of MFe2O4 and CNTs. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the CNTs@C@MFe2O4 delivers a high specific capacity, excellent cycling stability and high rate capacity. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the uniform dispersion of MFe2O4 nanoparticles on the amorphous carbon coated CNTs, which can improve contact area between the MFe2O4 nanoparticles and the electrolyte, enhance electrical conductivity, buffer the volume change maintain the structural integrity of the electrodes. Meanwhile, the lithiation and delithiation processes are systematically investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and transmission electron microscope technique. Furthermore, the efficient synthesis process developed here can also be extended to design and synthesize other transition metal oxides/carbon nanotube functional materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.