Synthesis of Nickel Fumarate and Its Electrochemical Properties for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have found a potential application in various domains such as gas storage/separation, drug delivery, catalysis, etc. Recently, they have found considerable attention for energy storage applications such as Li- and Na-ion batteries. However, the development of MOFs is plagued by their limited energy density that arises from high molecular weight and low volumetric density. The choice of ligand plays a crucial role in determining the performance of the MOFs. Here, we report a nickel-based one-dimensional metal-organic framework, NiC4H2O4, built from bidentate fumarate ligands for anode application in Li-ion batteries. The material was obtained by a simple chimie douce precipitation method using nickel acetate and fumaric acid. Moreover, a composite material of the MOF with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared to enhance the lithium storage performance as the rGO can enhance the electronic conductivity. Electrochemical lithium storage in the framework and the effect of rGO on the performance have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements, and EIS studies. The pristine nickel formate encounters serious capacity fading while the rGO composite offers good cycling stability with high reversible capacities of over 800 mAh g−1.