Synthesis of CuO nanowire arrays as high-performance electrode for lithium ion batteries

CuO nanowire arrays composed of nanoparticles are directly grown on Cu foam by a facile electro-deposition method. Free-standing CuO nanowires grow quasi-vertically on the substrate and show average diameters of similar to 180 nm as well as a length of similar to 20 mu m. The as-prepared CuO nanowire arrays are tested as anode material of lithium ion. The resultant CuO nanowire arrays exhibit high specific capacity and good cycle stability (687 mAh g(-1) at 0.2C (0.15 mA cm(-2)) up to 120 cycles), as well as enhanced high-rate capability. The improved performance is mainly attributed to the one-dimensional nanowire architecture, which offers good strain accommodation, short electron/lithium ion transport path and excellent electrical contact between active material and current collector. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.