Enhanced Energy Storage of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Embedded in N‐Doped Graphene

Abstract

AbstractWe report the synthesis and application of a material composed of Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in N‐doped graphene sheets (Fe3O4@N‐doped graphene) as a negative electrode for Li batteries. We study the influence of N‐doped graphene on the storage capacity of Fe3O4 using different electrochemical techniques. The as‐prepared Fe3O4 materials presented high‐quality crystalline nanostructures. The N‐doped graphene sheets improve the conductivity between the Fe3O4 nanoparticles, allowing a faster charge transfer process than that for pure magnetite, as well as the presence of porous particles in the hybrid composite. The Fe3O4@N‐doped graphene material show the best Li storage capacity maintaining specific capacity values of 910 mA h g−1 during 150 cycles performed at 0.05 A g−1 and 850 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 during the following 50 cycles. The N‐doped graphene sheets resist the volume changes that occur during cycling processes in rate capability experiments. We provide a simple and novel method to obtain a material with a higher superficial area and conductivity between particles, allowing great performance as a negative electrode for Li batteries application.