The design and fabrication of Co3O4/Co3V2O8/Ni nanocomposites as high-performance anodes for Li-ion batteries

The Co3O4 /Co3V2O8 /Ni nanocomposites were rationally designed and prepared by a two-step hydrothermal synthesis and subsequent annealing treatment. The one-dimensional (1D) Co3O4 nanowire arrays directly grew on Ni foam, whereas the 1D Co3V2O8 nanowires adhered to parts of Co3O4 nanowires. Most of the hybrid nanowires were inlayed with each other, forming a 3D hybrid nanowires network. As a result, the discharge capacity of Co3O4/Co3V2O8 /Ni nanocomposites could reach 1201.8 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 100 mA/g. After 600 cycles at 1 A/g, the discharge capacity was maintained at 828.1 mAh/g. Moreover, even though the charge/discharge rates were increased to 10 A/g, it rendered reversible capacity of 491.2 mAh/g. The superior electrochemical properties of nanocomposites were probably ascribed to their unique 3D architecture and the synergistic effects of two active materials. Therefore, such Co3O4/Co3V2O8 /Ni nanocomposites could potentially be used as anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries. (C) 2016 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B. V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.