Electrochemical investigation of microporous and mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles for lithium-ion batteries

• A hydrothermal route has been developed to synthesize porous α-Fe2O3 particles.
• Micro- and mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles have been obtained using anions Cl− and F−.
• Mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles display good electrochemical performances.
• This hydrothermal route may be extended to synthesis of other porous metal oxides.

α-Fe2O3 has been regarded as a promising candidate as anode materials for high energy-density lithium-ion batteries, because of its high capacity, low cost and environmental affinity. A facile hydrothermal route has been developed to synthesize monocrystalline microporous and mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles by using anions Cl− and F− as pore-formation additives in precursor solution, respectively. Electrochemical investigation indicates that the mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles display higher cyclic stabilities and capacity retentions than the microporous α-Fe2O3 particles at different current densities, although their sizes are in micrometer range, which indicate that the mesoporous α-Fe2O3 particles are promising anode candidate for high energy-density lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, this facile hydrothermal route using anion Cl− or F− as pore-formation additives may be extended to synthesis of other porous metal oxides.