Facile synthesis of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on porous human hair-derived carbon as improved anode materials for lithium ion batteries

A hybridized composite material of alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles/human hair-derived carbon (HHC) is prepared using a facile two-step method combined carbonization of human hair with homogeneous precipitation under microwave irradiation. Results show that the uniform alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of porous human hair-derived carbon. As an anode material for Li-ion batteries, it retains a reversible capacity of 1000 mAh g-lafter 200 cycles at 0.2 C. A discharge capacity higher than 750 mAh gland 550 inAh g(-1) is also recorded at 1 C and 2 C after 200 cycles, respectively. Such superior electrochemical performance of alpha-Fe2O3/HHC composite could be attributed to the favorable structure of HHC, which can improve the electron and lithium ion transport ability as anode. This study provides a cost-effective, highly efficient means to fabricate materials which combine keratin wastes-derived carbon with active nanoparticles for the development of high-performance lithium-ion battery materials. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.