Magnetite/carbon core-shell nanorods as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Carbon coated magnetite (Fe3O4) core-shell nanorods were synthesized by a hydrothermal method using Fe2O3 nanorods as the precursor. Transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM) analysis indicated that a carbon layer was coated on the surfaces of the individual Fe3O4 nanorods. The electrochemical properties of Fe3O4/carbon nanorods as anodes in lithium-ion cells were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques. The as-prepared Fe3O4/C core-shell nanorods show an initial lithium storage capacity of 1120 mAh/g and a reversible capacity of 394 mAh/g after 100 cycles, demonstrating better performance than that of the commercial graphite anode material.