A simple route to constructing rGO wrapped Fe2O3 cubes as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Combining iron oxide with carbon materials such as graphene oxide is an effective measure to solve the issues of terrible electronic conductivity and serious volume effect of iron oxides. Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite was synthesized via simple hydrothermal method with cubic iron oxide of a uniform particle size distribution (~ 50 nm), which were encapsulated between reduced graphene oxide layers. Construction of nanostructure cubic iron oxide facilitates the transportation of lithium ions and electrons. Furthermore, the introduction of reduced graphene oxide promotes the conductivity and structural integrity of the nanocomposites, while avoids the agglomeration and crushing of iron oxide particles during the lithiation/de-lithiation, facilitating the storage of lithium ions. Fe2O3-rGO-c0.2 as an anode material exhibits superior electrochemical performance, with initial discharge capacity of 1580.6 mAh g−1 and reversible capacity of 1145.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at the current density of 200 mA g−1. Moreover, it has a good rate performance of 479.1 mAh g−1 at a current density of 5000 mA g−1.