title: Highly porous NiCo2O4 Nanoflakes and nanobelts as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries with excellent rate capability.
abstract: Highly porous NiCo2O4 nanoflakes and nanobelts were synthesized by using a hydrothermal technique, followed by calcination of the NiCo2O4 precursors. The as-synthesized materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods. The NiCo2O4 nanoflakes and nanobelts were applied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Owing to the unique porous structural features, the NiCo2O4 nanoflakes and nanobelts exhibited high specific capacities of 1033 and 1056 mA h g(-1), respectively, and good cycling stability and rate capability. These exceptional electrochemical performances could be ascribed to the remarkable structural feature with a high surface area and void spaces within the surface of nanoflakes and nanobelts, which provide large contact areas between electrolyte and active materials for electrolyte diffusion and cushion the volume variation during the lithium-ion insertion/extraction process.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clean Energy Technology, School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney , Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Anjon Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shuangqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiuqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guoxiu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: NiCo2O4 nanobelts; NiCo2O4 nanoflakes; electrochemical performance; hydrothermal method; lithium-ion battery