A one-pot thermal decomposition of C4H4ZnO6 to ZnO@carbon composite for lithium storage

Zinc oxide nanoparticles embedded in carbon framework (ZnO@C) were synthesized through a one-pot thermal decomposition of C4H4ZnO6 served as the precursor for both ZnO and carbon. As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the ZnO@C composite delivers a reversible capacity of 680 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, and remains the capacity at 610 mAh g−1 even after 300 cycles. Such a good performance could be attributed to the existence of the carbon, which can act as a scaffold for ZnO nanoparticles not only enhancing conductivity, but also relieving volume changes of the electrode during lithiation and delithiation processes. The obtained ZnO@C composite may be found use in other applications in the fields of solar cells, gas sensors, optoelectronic devices, and Zn/Ni secondary batteries.