Ultralong Fe3O4 nanowires embedded graphene aerogel composite anodes for lithium ion batteries

Fe3O4 nanowires/graphene aerogel composite is prepared for the first time via a simple two-step method, including a hydrothermal and self-assembly water-bath L-ascorbic acid reduction process. Structural and morphological characterizations confirm that the ultralong Fe3O4 nanowires are embedded into the networks of graphene nanosheets. When exploited as an anode material for lithium ion batteries, Fe3O4 nanowires/graphene aerogel composite exhibits good rate capability (557 mAh g(-1) at a current density 2000 mA g(-1)) and excellent cycling performance (900 mAh g(-1 )at a current density of 200 mA g(-1) after 100 cycles) together with good rate performance. This work offers a simple and large-scale preparation process for Fe3O4 nanowires/graphene aerogel composite as an advanced anode material for lithium ion batteries. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.