Electrochemical properties of iron oxides/carbon nanotubes as anode material for lithium ion batteries

A composited anode material with combined Fe3O4/FeO nanotube and carbon shell is synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with subsequent CVD heat treatment. The as-prepared Fe3O4/FeO/C composite shows excellent cycle stability and rate capability as lithium ion battery anode. We study the effect of FeO on the electrochemical performances of the Fe3O4/FeO/C electrode. A capacity climbing phenomenon can be observed for the Fe3O4/FeO/C electrodes, which tends to be more evident with increasing FeO content. The "extra capacity" is correlated with the reversible formation of polymeric gel-like film on the particle surface of active materials, which is electrochemical active towards Li ions. The FeO component presents a certain extent of catalytic role in assisting the formation of the gel-like film. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analytical technique are combined to further confirm the reversible growth of the SEI gel-like film. High temperature promotes the formation of gel-like film, while the resistance from the film decreases remarkably with temperature due to the enhanced lithium ion conductivity. The film contributes little to the whole EIS resistance of Fe3O4/FeO nanotube/carbon electrode. Tentative explanations based on the current experiments and existing literature are made to explain such unusual finding. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.