Enhanced Li-ion storage performance of novel tube-in-tube structured nanofibers with hollow metal oxide nanospheres covered with a graphitic carbon layer.

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) nanofibers constructed with structurally stable nano-architecture and highly conductive carbon components can be employed to develop enhanced anodic materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, achieving an intricate combination of well-designed 1D-nanostructural materials and conductive carbon components for excellent lithium-ion storage capacity is a key challenge. In this study, novel and unique tube-in-tube structured nanofibers consisting of hollow metal oxide (CoFe2O4) nanospheres covered with a graphitic carbon (GC) layer were feasibly and successfully synthesized. A facile pitch solution infiltration method was applied to provide electrical conductivity in the tube-in-tube structure. Generally, mesophase pitch with liquid characteristics uniformly infiltrates the porous nanocrystals and transforms into graphitic layers around metallic CoFe2 alloys during the reduction process. The oxidation process that follows produces the hollow CoFe2O4 nanosphere by the nanoscale Kirkendall effect and the GC layer by selective decomposition of amorphous carbon layers. Hollow CoFe2O4 nanospheres comprising tube-in-tube structured nanofibers and GC layers are formed by pitch-derived carbon; these have improved structural stability and electrical conductivity resulting in excellent cycling and characteristics. Tube-in-tube structured nanofibers consisting of hollow CoFe2O4@GC nanospheres showed excellent long-cycle performance (682 mA h g-1 for the 1400th cycle at a high current density of 3.0 A g-1) and excellent rate capability (355 mA h g-1) even at an extremely high current density of 50 A g-1.