Mesoporous CuO xerogels constructed by nanorods for high-performance lithium storage

•CuO xerogels are constructed by crystalline nanorods with abundant mesopores.•Proper pore-size distribution and high surface area improve electrochemical property.•Orientation growth along (111) plane is favorable for lithium insertion/extraction.•Synergistic effects endow the sample with enhanced electrochemical performance.

Novel porous spherical CuO xerogels constructed by crystalline nanorods (100–200 nm in length and 20–40 nm in diameter) are synthesized as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. Aided with the soft-template of P123, the product possesses abundant mesopores centered at ~7.3 nm and high surface area of 63.1 m2 g−1. Benefiting from its structural features, including porous structure, one-dimensional structure, and oriented growth along (111) plane, the presented sample delivers high reversible capacity (646.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 150 cycles), excellent cyclic performance (88% capacity retention after 150 cycles), and superior rate capability (510 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C).

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