Hierarchical Co3O4@C hollow microspheres with high capacity as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Three-dimensional hierarchical Co3O4@C hollow microspheres (Co3O4@C HSs) are successfully fabricated by a facile and scalable method. The Co3O4@C HSs are composed of numerous Co3O4 nanoparticles uniformly coated by a thin layer of carbon. Due to its stable 3D hierarchical hollow structure and uniform carbon coating, the Co3O4@C HSs exhibit excellent electrochemical performance as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The Co3O4@C HSs electrode delivers a high reversible specific capacity, excellent cycling stability (1672 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and 842.7 mAh g−1 after 600 cycles at 1 A g−1), and prominent rate performance (580.9 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1). The excellent electrochemical performance makes this 3D hierarchical Co3O4@C HS a potential candidate for the anode materials of the next-generation LIBs. In addition, this simple synthetic strategy should also be applicable for synthesizing other 3D hierarchical metal oxide/C composites for energy storage and conversion.