Fabrication of highly ordered porous nickel oxide anode materials and their electrochemical characteristics in lithium storage

• NiO/Si-MCP nanocomposites electrocatalysts as anodes in lithium ion batteries.
• Si MCP itself is an excellent support for electrocatalyst.
• The structure with high surface to volume ratio endows higher mass NiO nanopatricles.
• The ordered channel and mesoporous structure permits liquid electrolyte flow easily.
• This research may provide a meaning way in integratable lithium-ion batteries.

The structure and electrochemical properties of silicon microchannel plates (MCP)-supported NiO nanocomposites (NiO/Si-MCP) synthesized by silicon micromachining, electroless plating, and thermal annealing are investigated as anodes in lithium ion batteries. Galvanostatic charge and discharge results indicate that the NiO/Si-MCP is capable of delivering a higher capacity than the bare nickel-oxide film. At a 1 C current, the NiO/Si-MCP nanocomposite film shows an enormous first discharge capacity of about 3190 mA g−1 and charge capacity of 1977 mA g−1. After 15 cycles, the NiO/Si-MCP nanocomposite retains a reversible capacity of 1531 mA g−1 with 63.7% of the capacity maintained in the 2nd cycle. The lithium storage capacity is maintained at ∼880 mA h g−1 after 50 discharge/charge cycles and it is much larger than that of NiO and its composites. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the highly ordered three-dimensional materials is attributed to the synergistic effects offered by the silicon microchannel plates in the nickel oxide film subsequently facilitating electrolyte penetration, diffusion, and migration. The structure is promising anode materials in lithium-ion batteries.