Flower-like NiCo2O4 from Ni-Co 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate metal organic framework tuned by graphene oxide for high-performance lithium storage

Three-dimensional (3D) flower-like NiCo2O4 (F-NiCo2O4) is synthesized through using graphene oxide (GO) as "designer additives" to induce Ni-Co 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate metal-organic framework (NiCo- BTC MOF) from nanoparticles to form nanoneedles, and then further self-assembles to a 3D flowerlike morphology. A possible process of morphological change is described in detail according to the changing amount of GO and reaction time. The as-prepared unique structure constructed by ultrafine subunits exhibits a high specific surface area (152.8 m(2) g(-1)) and plentiful mesopores. As an anode in lithium-ion battery, F-NiCo2O4 shows a high capacity of 1167 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 200 mA g(-1) and even maintains 333 mA h g(-1) at a high rate of 5000 mA g(-1). Moreover, the 3D flower-like F-NiCo2O4 remains a high capacity of 1067 mA h g(-1) at 1000 mA g(-1) after 400 cycles. The novel method in this work paves a new way to form 3D structure by using GO to induce MOF aggregation, which may be extended to preparing other metal/metal oxides materials for electrochemical energy-storage systems. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.