N-doped graphene/Fe–Fe3C nano-composite synthesized by a Fe-based metal organic framework and its anode performance in lithium ion batteries

•N-doped graphene/Fe–Fe3C nano-composite is directly synthesized from Fe-based MOF.•A possible formation mechanism is proposed to synthesize graphene based composites from MOFs.•The material shows a high discharge capacity over 900 mAh g−1 with good capacity retention.•The materials owns excellent capacity retention at high charge–discharge rate.

N-doped graphene/Fe–Fe3C nano-composite was synthesized through a one-pot pyrolysis process of a Fe-based metal–organic framework (MIL-100(Fe)). X-ray diffraction confirms the successful formation of the Fe3C and Fe phase in the nano-composite. Transmission electron microscope and atomic force microscope observe that the Fe and Fe3C particles are in the size of 10–20 nm, which are homogeneously loaded on the N-doped graphene sheets. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that N atoms are successfully doped into the graphene sheets. The material shows a high discharge capacity of 1098 mAh g−1 at the current density of 100 mA g−1. It can still deliver a discharge capacity of 607 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 1000 mA g−1, demonstrating its excellent capacity retention at high charge–discharge rate.

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