One-pot fabrication of graphene sheets decorated Co2P-Co hollow nanospheres for advanced lithium ion battery anodes

•Co2P-Co hollow nanospheres with graphene sheets decoration are prepared through one-pot solution approach.•Co2P-Co/graphene nanocomposites reveal greatly enhanced lithium storage performances than Co2P-Co counterparts.•The superb electrochemical performances derive from dual modification of graphene sheets and metal Co as well as their hollow configuration.

The fabrication of Co2P-Co (Co-P composites) hollow nanospheres with graphene sheets decoration through one-pot solution approach is demonstrated and their potential as the anode materials for lithium ion batteries is assessed. A large specific capacity of 929 mA h g−1 can be retained for Co-P/graphene nanocomposites at 100 mA g−1 after 200 cycles. When cycled at a large current density of 2.0C, the Co-P/graphene nanocomposites deliver a decent reversible capacity of 567 mA h g−1, which is much higher than the theoretical capacity of traditional graphite anode (372 mA h g−1). The obviously enhanced lithium storage properties of Co-P/graphene nanocomposites are put down to the dual modification of graphene sheets and metal Co as well as their hollow structures.

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