Nano-sized Li–Fe composite oxide prepared by a self-catalytic reverse atom transfer radical polymerization approach as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

A novel Self-catalytic Reverse Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (RATRP) approach that can provide the radical initiator and the catalyst by the system itself is used to synthesize a nano-sized Li–Fe composite oxide powder in large scale. Its crystalline structure and morphology have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal that the composite is composed of nano-sized LiFeO2 and Fe3O4. Its electrochemical properties are evaluated by charge/discharge measurements. The results show that the Li–Fe composite oxide is an excellent anode material for lithium-ion batteries with good cycling performance (1249 mAh g−1 at 100th cycle) and outstanding rate capability (967 mAh g−1 at 5 C). Such a self-catalytic RATRP approach provides a way to synthesize nano-sized iron oxide-based anode materials industrially with preferable electrochemical performance and can also be applied in other polymer-related area.