Nano-crystalline FeOOH mixed with SWNT matrix as a superior anode material for lithium batteries

Abstract

Nano-crystalline FeOOH particles (5∼10 nm) have been uniformly mixed with electric matrix of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for forming FeOOH/SWNT composite via a facile ultrasonication method. Directly using the FeOOH/SWNT composite (containing 15 wt% SWNTs) as anode material for lithium battery enhances kinetics of the Li+ insertion/extraction processes, thereby effectively improving reversible capacity and cycle performance, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 758 mAh·g−1 under a current density of 400 mA·g−1 even after 180 cycles, being comparable with previous reports in terms of electrochemical performance for FeOOH anode. The good electrochemical performance should be ascribed to the small particle size and nano-crystalline of FeOOH, as well as the good electronic conductivity of SWNT matrix.