Synthesis of hierarchical α-Fe2O3 nanotubes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Hierarchical alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes are facially synthesized via a sacrificial template strategy without chemical etching, and are then employed as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). FeC2O4 center dot 2H(2)O nanorods are used as the sacrificial template to prepare nanotubes consisting of numerous nanosheets. The resultant hierarchical hollow structures possess an inter-diameter range of 400-600 nm and exhibit a large specific surface area. The as-prepared hierarchical nanotubes demonstrate remarkable improvement in cycling stability (500 cycles) and a reversible Li+ storage capacity as high as 764.2 mAh g (-1) at a current density of 0.5 A g (-1). This excellent electrochemical performance suggests that the hierarchical alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes prepared herein are promising candidate anode materials for LIBs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.