Ultrafast pyro-synthesis of NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles within a full carbon network as a high-rate and cycle-stable anode material for lithium ion batteries

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 6; no. 44; pp. 38064 - 38070
• Main Authors: P, Preetham, Mohapatra, Subhalaxmi, Nair, Shantikumar V, Santhanagopalan, Dhamodaran, Rai, Alok Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Anodes; Carbon; Constants; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; High current; Lithium-ion batteries; Nanoparticles; Networks
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra03670h

NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles fully anchored within a carbon network were prepared via a facile pyro-synthesis method without using any conventional carbon sources. The surface morphology was investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed the full anchoring of NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles within a carbon network. The primary particle size of NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) is in the range of 50-100 nm. The influence of the carbon network on the electrochemical performance of the NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/C nanocomposite was investigated. The electrochemical results showed that the NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/C anode delivered a reversible capacity of 381.8 mA h g super(-1) after 100 cycles at a constant current rate of 1.0C, and when the current rate is increased to a high current rate of 5.0C, a reversible capacity of 263.7 mA h g super(-1) is retained. The obtained charge capacity at high current rates is better than the reported values for NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be mainly ascribed to the high electrical conductivity of the electrode, the short diffusion path for Li super(+) ion transportation in the active material and synergistic effects between the NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles and carbon network, which buffers the volume changes and prevents aggregation of NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) nanoparticles during cycling.