Zn2SiO4 urchin-like microspheres: controlled synthesis and application in lithium-ion batteries

Three-dimensional (3D) Zn2SiO4 urchin-like microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple and facile hydrothermal method without using any surfactants or additives. The as-prepared microspheres were built by one-dimensional (1D) nanorods, which interconnected with each other through self-assembly. The reaction conditions influencing the morphologies of the products such as reaction times, reaction temperatures, and pH values were systematically investigated. The stepwise self-assembly formation mechanism for the hierarchical urchin-like microspheres was proposed on the basis of a series of time-dependent experiments. As a demonstration of the functional properties of such 3D architecture, Zn2SiO4 was investigated as a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It was found that the Zn2SiO4 urchin-like microspheres exhibited a high discharge capacity and good cycling stability, indicating that they are promising anode candidates in LIBs. Such attractive lithium storage performance presented an alternative anode material for high-performance LIBs.