Urchin-like Co3O4 Nanostructure and Their Electrochemical Behavior Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery

3D urchin-like Co3O4 have been successfully prepared by calcination of the urchin-like precursors, which were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal route. The morphology and structure of the 3D urchin-like Co3O4 have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. The as-synthesized Co3O4 products are of urchin-like structures with approximated 5-7 mu m in diameter, and are composed of numerous nanoparticles chains with the particles diameter of about 15 nm. This kind of urchin-like Co3O4 exhibits superior energy storage properties with the high capacity of 1.369 Ah/g and its good cyclic stability shows great potential in the rechargeable Li-ion battery.