Elsevier

Materials Letters

Volume 215, 15 March 2018, Pages 221-224
Materials Letters

Facile synthesis of MoO3@carbon fibers for high reversible lithium storage

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.12.058Get rights and content

Highlights

  • MoO3@CFs based on MoO3 nanoplates grown on carbon fibers was developed.

  • The carbon fibers were derived from cotton pads.

  • The as-prepared composite shows superior lithium storage performance.

Abstract

A facile method was developed for the synthesis of carbon fibers with molybdenum oxide nanoplates arrays grown on. The carbon fibers were directly derived from cotton pads, which provide the long range conductivity. The sheet-like structure of MoO3 shortens the path of lithium diffusion and offers a large surface area for electrolyte penetration. The MoO3@CFs manifest high reversible capacity of 1070 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and excellent rate capability for lithium storage. This work offers a simple and effective approach for the development of high-performance electrodes for lithium ion batteries.

Introduction

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have received great interest as a promising alternative energy storage system in virtue of their high energy density with prolonged life span [1]. The low theoretical capacity of commercial graphite anode is unsatisfactory for the requirements of large-scale energy applications [2], [3]. Transition metal oxides have been intensely investigated as alternative anode materials owing to their superior electrochemical properties [4]. Among those transition metal oxides, molybdenum oxide (MoO3) is regarded as very promising anode for LIBs because of its high theoretical capacity of 1117 mA h g−1, and improved safety [5]. Despite these advantageous features, MoO3 suffers low electric conductivity and huge volume change during cycling, which results in poor cycling stability and large capacity loss [6], [7].

To overcome these obstacles, one efficient approach is to integrate a carbonaceous matrix with active materials to form a hybrid structure, thus improving the electronic conductivity and accommodating the volume changes [8], [9]. Another strategy is to design the nanostructure of electrode materials [10], [11]. A rational design and synthesis can be expected to maintain the good structural integration and improve the cycle stability.

Cotton pads, which are usually applied for girls’ make-up, have large sales in the general market. To offer a possible solution for recycling of the cotton pads, here we propose a facile method to synthesize MoO3@carbon fibers (CFs) composite, with the MoO3 nanoplates arrays directly grown on carbon fibers derived from cotton pads. The carbon fiber could provide long range conductivity, while the sheet-like structure of MoO3 shortens the path of lithium diffusion and offers a large surface area for electrolyte penetration. The unique architecture of composite is beneficial for the rate capability and cycling stability of the electrode.

Section snippets

Material and methods

Cotton pads were purchased from general market and used directly. In a typical synthesis, 0.143 mmol ((NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O) was first dissolved in 50 ml of deionized water to form a settled solution, which was then added drop wise to the dried cotton pads. The pads were dried in an oven, and transferred into a muffle furnace and heat-treated at 350 °C for 30 min with the ramping rate of 2 °C min−1. The as-prepared powders were collected and grinded, obtaining the MoO3@carbon fibers composite

Results and discussion

Fig. 1 shows the XRD pattern of the MO@CFs composite. All identified peaks can be indexed to MoO3 with an orthorhombic structure (JCPDS No. 35-0609, pbnm (62)) and a slightly amount of MoO2 with a monoclinic structure (JCPDS No. 32-0671, p21/c (14)), confirming the decomposition from (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O to a crystalline MoO3 phase. The XRD pattern of MO is perfectly indexed to pure MoO3 (JCPDS No. 35-0609, pbnm (62)). The XRD pattern of the heat-treated cotton pads is also shown in Fig. 1, in

Conclusions

In summary, a facile route has been developed to directly grow MoO3 nanoplates on carbon fibers for enhanced lithium storage properties. The obtained MoO3@CFs electrodes exhibit excellent cycle stability and superior rate capability. The present work offers a possible solution for the recycling of cotton pads and provides a simple and effective approach for the development of high-performance electrodes for lithium ion batteries.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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