Ordered mesoporous carbon supported Ni3V2O8 composites for lithium-ion batteries with long-term and high-rate performance

Transition metal vanadates have gained significant attention as high performance anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we successfully fabricated a novel hierarchical hybrid nanostructure of ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) supported Ni3V2O8 composites (Ni3V2O8@CMK-3) through a facile hydrothermal method and a post-calcination process for the first time. Within such a hierarchical hybrid structure, short intercrossed Ni3V2O8 nanorods are firmly anchored onto the external surface of CMK-3 and ultrafine Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles are embedded in the internal channels of CMK-3. Benefitting from their robust porous structure and excellent conductive characteristic, the as-prepared hierarchical hybrid Ni3V2O8@CMK-3 composites exhibit long-term cycle stability with a high reversible capacity of 945.9 mA h g(-1) after 200 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g(-1) and superior high-rate capability (161.5 mA h g(-1) when cycled at 20 A g(-1)) when used as a promising anode for LIBs.