Pillow-shaped porous CuO as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Pillow-shaped porous cupric oxide (CuO) was prepared by a template-free method. Highly crystallized CuC2O4 precursor with micron-size in high dispersivity was prepared through a hydrothermal method first. Thermal treatment was carried out with the obtained precursor to produce porous cupric oxide. Thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and galvanostatic cell cycling were employed to characterize the structure and electrochemical performance of the porous cupric oxide. The porous CuO powder exhibited high average coulombic efficiency (98.3%) and capacity retention (83.3% of the discharge capacity of the second cycle after 50 cycles) at a current rate of 0.1 C.

Graphical AbstractPillow-shaped porous cupric oxide was obtained by the controlled thermal decomposition of the precursor CuC2O4. The as-prepared CuO electrode exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 770.3 mAh.g–1 with the average coulombic efficiency of 98.3% and 83.3% retention of the discharge capacity of the second cycle after 50 cycles.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► Pillow-shaped porous cupric oxide (CuO) was prepared by a template-free method. Micron-size CuC2O4 crystal was first prepared by a simple hydrothermal chemical route. Porous cupric oxide was then obtained by the controlled thermal decomposition of the precursor CuC2O4.
► The porous CuO was assembled by nanocrystallines with size of about 30 nm.
► The as-prepared CuO electrode exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 770.3 mAh g− 1 with the average coulombic efficiency of 98.3% and 83.3% retention of the discharge capacity of the second cycle after 50 cycles.