Durable high-rate performance of CuO hollow nanoparticles/graphene-nanosheet composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Copper oxide hollow nanoparticles/graphene-nanosheet composites are prepared using the Kirkendall-effect approach. The composites exhibit a durable lifetime cycle at high rates. The reversible capacity of the material attains 640 mAhg(-1) at 50 mAg(-1) and the capacity retention is ca. 96% when the current density is increased 10 times. At 1 Ag-1 (ca. 1.7 C), the reversible capacity reaches 485 mAhg(-1) and remains at 281 mAhr(-1) after 500 cycles, indicating that the capacity fading is less than 0.4 mAhg(-1) per cycle. This excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the hollow interior of CuO nanoparticles as well as synergistic effect between CuO and graphene. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.