title: Facile synthesis of sandwiched Zn2GeO4-graphene oxide nanocomposite as a stable and high-capacity anode for lithium-ion batteries.
abstract: Traditional metal anode materials in lithium-ion batteries are plagued by instability upon discharge-charge cycling. We report that a unique sandwiched Zn2GeO4-graphene oxide nanocomposite has been synthesized on a large scale through a simple ion-exchange reaction, whereby Zn2GeO4 nanorods with lengths of 600 nm and widths of 40 nm are homogeneously sandwiched into the graphene oxide matrix. Compared with bare Zn2GeO4 nanorods, a dramatic improvement in the electrochemical performance of the resulting nanocomposite has been achieved. In the voltage window of 0.001-3 V, the electrode of the Zn2GeO4-graphene oxide nanocomposite delivers a specific capacity as high as 1150 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1) after 100 discharge-charge cycles. Even at a high current density of 3.2 A g(-1), a capacity of 522 mA h g(-1) can be retained. The unusual electrochemical performance including highly reversible capacity and excellent rate capability arise from synergetic chemical coupling effects between Zn2GeO4 and graphene oxide.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing & Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China. huxl@mail.hust.edu.cn huangyh@mail.hust.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Xianluo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qie
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Yunhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D005857:Germanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D010087:Oxides; C534214:zinc germanate; D005857:Germanium; D006108:Graphite; D008094:Lithium