Synthesis of CuO nanowire arrays as high-performance electrode for lithium ion batteries

• Porous CuO nanowire arrays are prepared by an anodic electrodeposition method.
• Porous CuO nanowire is composed of interconnected nanoparticles.
• Porous structure is favorable for fast ion/electron transfer.
• Porous CuO nanowire arrays show good lithium ion storage properties.

CuO nanowire arrays composed of nanoparticles are directly grown on Cu foam by a facile electrodeposition method. Free-standing CuO nanowires grow quasi-vertically on the substrate and show average diameters of ~180 nm as well as a length of ~20 μm. The as-prepared CuO nanowire arrays are tested as anode material of lithium ion. The resultant CuO nanowire arrays exhibit high specific capacity and good cycle stability (687 mAh g−1at 0.2C (0.15 mA cm-2) up to 120 cycles), as well as enhanced high-rate capability. The improved performance is mainly attributed to the one-dimensional nanowire architecture, which offers good strain accommodation, short electron/lithium ion transport path and excellent electrical contact between active material and current collector.

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