Controllable fabrication of nanoplate and nanowire determined by the surface/interface energy on high-temperature liquid metal

Abstract

Nanomaterials and nanotechnology play an important role in engineering and science, and nanotechnology is constantly innovating. Fabrication of nano-sized oxides has been developed for a long time. As a member of nano-sized oxides, nano-sized transition metal oxides have been studied urgently for their promising applications in lithium-ion batteries. Many cutting-edge works have rendered tremendous smart routes to nanoflakes and nanowires, however a liquid metal strategy remains virgin land by far. Liquid metal has more special properties than other conventional solutions, so it has the foundation and prospect of fabricating nanomaterials. Here, liquid metal rotates speedily, keeping oxygen on surface to formations of Fe3O4 nanosheets and Co3O4 nanowires. The as-prepared nanomaterials can be used as favorable anode materials of lithium-ion batteries. Especially Co3O4 nanowires electrode has good cycle stability (497 ± 1.1 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 after 300 cycles) and favorable rate performance (428 ± 10 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1).