Nickel foil-supported interconnected Fe3O4 nanosheets as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

• Nickel foil-supported porous Fe3O4 film has an areal density of 0.68 mg cm−2.
• The film is composed of interconnected nanosheets.
• The nanosheet is assembled by parallel-aligned nanobelts.
• The film delivers high reversible capacity and initial coulombic efficiency.
• The film shows good cycling stability and rate capability.

Nickel foil-supported porous Fe3O4 films are prepared by chemical bath deposition. The film subjected to 60 min deposition has an areal density of 0.68 mg cm−2, and is composed of interconnected nanosheets assembled by parallel-aligned nanobelts. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, its electrochemical performance is studied by galvanostatic discharge-charge and cyclic voltammetry measurements. It delivers an initial charge capacity of 806 mAh g−1 and an initial coulombic efficiency of 77%. It shows good cycling stability and rate capability. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the interconnected nanosheet structure.