Self-assembly of ZnO nanoparticles attached to 3D pleated Zn3(PO4)2/C from cola for enhanced lithium storage

Abstract

We reported an efficient and cost-effective strategy for self-assembly of ZnO nanoparticles attached to 3D pleated Zn3(PO4)2/C from cola (ZnO/Zn3(PO4)2/C). Wherein, 3D pleated Zn3(PO4)2/C conductive buffer and ZnO nanoparticles were generated together under one-step hydrothermal process without secondary recombination. ZnO/Zn3(PO4)2/C as anode shows the high reversible capacity of 946 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and the outstanding long-cycling stability of 641 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at 1 A g−1. The significantly enhanced lithium storage can be ascribed to that novel pleated Zn3(PO4)2/C conductive buffer accommodates the volume variation, ensures the abundant active sites and disperses ZnO nanoparticles to a certain extent during the repeated cycles. These make ZnO/Zn3(PO4)2/C a potential anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and provide new ideas to develop materials for other energy storage devices.