A metal–organic-framework derived NiFe2O4@NiCo-LDH nanocube as high-performance lithium-ion battery anode under different temperatures

Abstract

Binary transition metal oxides have attracted broad interests as promising Li-ion battery anode candidates because of high capacity and low cost. However, the poor cycling stability and severe volumetric expansion limit their practical applications. Herein, we develop a novel metal-organic-framework (MOF) derived hierarchical nanostructure composing of hollow NiFe2O4 nanocube in-situ growing with nickel cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) nanosheets. The NiFe2O4@NiCo-LDH nanocube anode delivers a specific capacity of 636.9 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, high Coulombic efficiency and good rate-performance recoverability, which are much better compared to pristine NiFe2O4. In addition, the developed nanocube composites display stable energy-storage properties at both low and high temperatures, indicating a promising potential for applications. In-situ monitoring on the interfacial reaction resistance of the NiFe2O4@NiCo-LDH at different charge–discharge stages proves its high conductivity and low interfacial resistance barrier. These findings enable the hierarchical nanocubes to be applicable for engineering many other energy-storage composites.