Carbon@NiCoO2-CoOOH Double-Shelled Hollow Burr Nanospheres as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

With SiO2 spheres as the template and PPy as carbon precursor, a layer of amorphous carbon has been tightly coated on NiCoO2-CoOOH hollow burr nanospheres, forming a unique double-shelled hollow burr nanospheres structure. Carbon@NiCoO2-CoOOH presents a high discharge capacity (1334 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1), a stable cycling performance (912 mAh g−1 at the 600th cycle at 200 mA g−1), and a desirable rate capability when used as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The outstanding electrochemical performance results from the synergy effect of the hollow burr nanosphere and the amorphous carbon shell. The hollow burr nanosphere endows NiCoO2 and CoOOH with a high electrochemical activity and a good accommodation capability to volume change. The amorphous carbon shell remarkably reinforces the structure stability and electronic conductivity of NiCoO2 and CoOOH.