Hedgehog-like CuO/nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposite for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes

With a hydrothermal method, we have successfully prepared hedgehog-like CuO/nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheet (CuO/N-GNS) nanocomposite. The hedgehog-like CuO/N-GNS nanocomposite exhibits superior Li-ion storage properties in terms of high capacity, long cycle life, and excellent rate performance. After 50 cycles, hedgehog-like CuO/N-GNS nanocomposite exhibits higher discharge special capacity (750.1 mA h g(-1)) than hedgehog-like CuO (456.8 mA h g(-1)) at a current of 100 mA g(-1). The cyclic stability of hedgehog-like CuO/N-GNS nanocomposite is better than that of hedgehog-like CuO, indicating that N-GNSs can further improve the cycle performance of hedgehog-like CuO owing to its high electrical conductivity and good buffer role. The hedgehog-like CuO/N-GNS nanocomposite has potential applications in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.