Mesoporous ZnCo2O4 microspheres composed of ultrathin nanosheets cross-linked with metallic NiSix nanowires on Ni foam as anodes for lithium ion batteries

ZnCo2O4 microspheres with hierarchical mesoporous structures composed of ultrathin nanosheets cross-linked with metallic NiSix nanowires are successfully synthesized on Ni foam via a combined facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and simple but powerful chemical bath deposition (CBD) followed by a calcination process. The ZnCo2O4 microspheres/NiSix nanowires are directly employed as binder- and conductive-agent-free anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The resultant integrated electrodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical performances in terms of high specific capacity, superior rate capability and outstanding cycling stability due to their advantageously structural features including mesoporous feature of ZnCo2O4 microspheres, highly conductive NiSix nanowire scaffold and cross-linked network structure with the intimate interconnection between ZnCo2O4 microspheres and NiSix nanowires. A reversible capacity up to 701 mA hg(-1) after 340 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g(-1) and a capacity of about 373 mA hg(-1) after 10 cycles even at a current density as high as 4 A g(-1) can be retained, suggesting their great potential as efficient electrodes for high-performance LIBs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.