Copper oxide@cobalt oxide core–shell nanostructure, as an efficient binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Here, cobalt oxide nanostructures synthesized on vertically aligned copper oxide nanowires (NWs) have been investigated as a possible anode material for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Copper oxide NWs were formed by thermal oxidation of electrochemically deposited copper on the stainless steel mesh substrate. The process used allows the formation of highly dense copper oxide NWs with excellent adhesion to the conductive current collector substrate. A simple hydrothermal method was implemented for the deposition of cobalt oxide nanostructures on the copper oxide NWs. The as-prepared binder-free copper oxide@cobalt oxide NWs electrode exhibits a high initial specific capacity of 460 mAh g−1 at a current density of 148 mA g−1. The fabricated core–shell structure effectively improved the capacity of the fabricated half-cell by four times after 30 cycles, compared with bare copper oxide NWs. In addition to its straightforward and inexpensive synthesis process, the improved electrochemical performance suggests the copper oxide@cobalt oxide NWs electrode as a potential anode material for advanced LIBs.