Chromium(III) oxide carbon nanocomposites lithium-ion battery anodes with enhanced energy conversion performance

• The Cr2O3/carbon nanocomposites were prepared by directly carbonizing the glycine–CrCl3 gel precursor.
• The prepared Cr2O3 nanoparticles were embedded in carbon sheets.
• The Cr2O3/carbon nanocomposites displayed superior cycling performance and rate performances.
• The carbon sheets improved the electrical conductivity of Cr2O3 and buffered the volume change.

The chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles embedded in the carbon sheets are fabricated by combining a sol–gel approach with an efficient carbonization process using glycine as carbon precursor. These Cr2O3/carbon nanocomposites serving as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been tested, exhibiting higher cycling (reversible capacity of 465.5 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1) and rate performances (the discharge capacities of 448.7, 287.2, and 144.8 mA h g−1 at a current density of 200, 400, and 800 mA g−1, respectively) than pure Cr2O3 (reversible capacity of 71.2 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and the discharge capacities of 174.4, 60.5, 29.5, and 13.6 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mA g−1, respectively) due to the presence of carbon sheets, which efficiently buffer the volume change during the lithiation/delithiation and improve the electrical conductivity between Cr2O3 nanoparticles.

The Cr2O3/carbon nanocomposites synthesized by directly carbonizing glycine–CrCl3 gel precursor exhibit superior cycling and rate performances as lithium-ion battery anode materials.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide