Novel carbon nanofiber-cobalt oxide composites for lithium storage with large capacity and high reversibility

Abstract

Carbon nanofiber (CNF)-Co 3O 4 composites were prepared by the calcination of CNF-Co(OH) 2 composite precursors under argon atmosphere. SEM and TEM observations revealed that Co 3O 4 particles in the size of ca. 30–50 nm were highly dispersed and attached on the surface of the reticular CNF and all around. As for electrode materials, the CNF-Co 3O 4 composite demonstrated very high reversible capacity (more than 900 mAh g −1 in the initial 50 cycles) and excellent electrochemical cycling stability. The improved cycle performance of the CNF-Co 3O 4 composite can be attributed to its unique reticular and morphology-stable composite texture with high dispersion of Co 3O 4 nanoparticles on the CNF that provides excellent electronic and ionic conduction pathway for the electrochemical processes.