Rapid microwave hydrothermal processed spinel Co3O4 nanospheres infused N-doped graphene nanosheets for high-performance battery

Abstract

Spinel Co3O4 nanospheres have been synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The N-doped graphene nanosheets (NGN) were synthesized using Hummer’s method. The prepared spinel Co3O4 and NGN were mixed under certain proportions using an ultrasonication process and treated with microwave radiation to prepare a novel spinel Co3O4 nanospheres infused NGN. The synthesized samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Zetasizer, scanning electron microscope/transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for identifying crystal structure and phase, particle size, and the morphology of the nanostructure and the elemental configuration, respectively. The prepared spinel Co3O4/NGN were used as anode material and lithium metal as a reference electrode to fabricate half cell using Swagelok cell components. The electrochemical properties were studied and found to exhibit a larger specific capacity of 575 mAh g−1 compared to traditional graphite electrodes, after 100 cycles under 0.1 C rate with a coulombic efficiency of ≈100%. The good electrochemical properties ascribe to the distinctive surface morphological nanostructures of nanoporous nanospheres of spinel Co3O4 nanospheres and nanosheets of N-doped graphene that reduce the lithium-ion diffusion pathway. The developed anode material would be a potential electrode for lithium ion battery applications.