Nanoarchitectured Fe3O4 array electrode and its excellent lithium storage performance

Fe3O4 nanoparticles were deposited electrochemically on an array of Cu nanoribbons and used as the anode for lithium ion batteries. The three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure of the Fe3O4 anode was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Galvanostatic cycling tests revealed that the 3D nanostructured Fe3O4 anode exhibited a superior performance. Reversible capacity was measured as high as 870 mAh g−1 after 280 cycles (at a current density of 385 mA g−1, 0.42 C) and also shown an excellent rate capability that was determined at 231 mAh g−1 under the rate of 8000 mA g−1 (∼9 C). The superior performance of the 3D nanostructured Fe3O4 electrode has been attributed to its peculiar structure, which allows one-dimensional electron transport on the array, as well as to the decrease in interparticle contact resistance.