Hollow nickel microtube /carbon nanospheres Core-Shell arrays as electrode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries

Carbonaceous anode materials are widely used for a variety of applications in current electrochemical energy storage field. However, carbon nanospheres are much more difficult to be directionally assembled into self-supported arrays. In this paper, we demonstrate a facile and controlled strategy to effectively synthesize the hollow nickel microtube/carbon nanospheres core-shell arrays. The unique core-shell arrays structural is beneficial to electron conduction and structural stability of whole composite material as a binder-free electrode. The hollow nickel microtube/carbon nanospheres core-shell arrays exhibit good the reversible capacity, rate capability and a specific capacity of 148 mAhh g−1 after 100 cycles by the effective improved of electrical conductivity and constructing open channels for Li ion diffusion.