Gamma-irradiation synthesis of Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposites as lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/rGO) nanocomposites with different weight concentration of Fe3O4 have been synthesized by a gamma-irradiation method. The iron(III) hydroxide and graphene oxide (GO) were reduced to Fe3O4 and rGO by the reducing species generated from the radiolysis of solvent. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were anchored on the rGO nanosheets. The electrochemical performances of the obtained materials were evaluated in coin-type cells. As Li-ion rechargeable battery anodes, the discharge/charge cycling stability of Fe3O4/rGO composites is significantly improved in comparison with that of bare Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Among the studied composites, Fe3O4/rGO-2 (wt% of Fe3O4 ≈ 78.8%) shows the best cycling stability at a current density of 50 mA g−1. The discharge capacity of Fe3O4/rGO-2 remains 568.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. However, Fe3O4/rGO-3 (wt% of Fe3O4 ≈ 74.7%) exhibits an excellent cycling stability at a higher current density (500 mA g−1), that the sustained discharge capacity is 738.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles.