Net-structured NiO–C nanocomposite as Li-intercalation electrode material

Net-structured NiO was prepared by urea-mediated homogeneous hydrolysis of Ni(CH3COO)2 under microwave radiation followed by a calcination at 500 °C. NiO–C nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing the as-prepared net-structured NiO in glucose solution and subsequent carbonization under hydrothermal conditions at 180 °C. The carbon in the composite was amorphous by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and its content was 15.05 wt% calculated according to the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) result. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of the NiO–C nanocomposite showed that the NiO network was homogeneously filled by amorphous carbon. The reversible capacity of NiO–C nanocomposite after 40 cycles is 429 mAh g−1, much higher than that of NiO (178 mAh g−1). These improvements are attributed to the carbon, which can enhance the conductivity of NiO, suppress the aggregation of active particles, and increase their structure stability during cycling.