Simple chemical reduction route for the synthesis of Cu-modified Co3O4 nanosheet with enhanced performance as anode material in lithium-ion batteries

Cu-modified Co3O4 nanosheets were designed and fabricated via a facile two-step process by a simple microwave-assisted reaction to synthesise Co3O4 sheets, followed by chemically reducing copper ion on Co3O4 sheets. The structures and morphologies of the obtained sheet-like Cu-modified Co3O4 nanomaterials were characterised by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. As the anode materials for the lithium-ion battery applications, the Cu-modified Co3O4 nanosheet electrode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1208 mAh g(-1) and its initial coulombic efficiency was 82.24%, much higher than 74.8% for Co3O4 sheets. More importantly, a reversible capacity of ca. 600 mAh g(-1) could be reached at a higher current density of 890 mA g(-1). The enhanced electrochemical performance may be attributed the incorporated Cu as well as the porous structure and the sheet-like morphology of the Co3O4 active materials.