Porous ZnCo2O4 nanotubes were synthesized for the first time by an easy single-nozzle electrospinning strategy combined with subsequent heating treatment. The ZnCo2O4 nanotubes are polycrystalline with diameters of 200–300 nm and lengths up to several millimeters. The walls are ∼50 nm thick, comprising interconnected ZnCo2O4 nanocrystals (∼30 nm) and numerous nanopores (∼3 nm). When tested as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the resulting ZnCo2O4 nanotubes exhibit superior electrochemical lithium-storage performances with high specific capacity, good cyclability, and excellent rate capability. A high reversible capacity of 1454 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 is achieved, and even reaches 794 mAh g−1 at a current density as high as 2000 mA g−1 after 30 discharge/charge cycles, indicating a promising anode candidate for lithium-ion batteries.

Electrospun porous ZnCo2O4 nanotubes as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

A simple microemulsion-based method has been developed to synthesize ZnCo(2)(C(2)O(4))(3) nanowires that can be transformed to porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires under annealing conditions. The morphology of porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires can be tuned by the initial ZnCo(2)(C(2)O(4))(3) nanowires and the annealing temperatures. The as-synthesized porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires have been applied as anode materials of Li-ion batteries, which show superior capacity and cycling performance. The porous one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures and large surface area are responsible for the superior performance. Moreover, it is indicated that porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires synthesized at low annealing temperature (500 °C) show larger capacity and better cycling performance than that prepared at high annealing temperature (700 °C), because of their higher porosity and larger surface area.

Donghua Chen

Papers

Preparation and characterization of the spinel oxide ZnCo2O4 obtained by sol–gel method