Template-free synthesis of dispersed MoOx hollow microspheres toward enhanced reversible capacity of lithium storage

Dispersed MoOx hollow microspheres are successfully prepared through a template-free route. The crystalline phase and morphology of the hollow spheres are investigated by XRD and SEM. As it is shown in the results, the hollow spheres were constructed by nanopraticales. The average size of the hollow spheres is c.a. 1 mu m and the wall thickness is c.a. 170 nm. Electrochemical properties of MoOx hollow microspheres are also evaluated in this paper. It is shown that the microspheres exhibit high specific capacity of 917 mAh/g, tiny irreversible capacity loss of 6%, and excellent rate capability. The significant enhancement in Li storage capacity is ascribed to the thin-walled hollow structure. In specific, the enlarged surface area due to this nanostructure allows high charge flux across the electrode-electrolyte interface, thus leads to enhanced kinetics for Li ion insertion and extraction.