Facile synthesis of pH-tuned NiFe2O4/Fe2O3 nanocomposites as high-performance anode materials for Li-ion batteries
摘要
In this research, two-component NiFe2O4/Fe2O3 (NFO) nanocomposites were fabricated through co-precipitation involving nickel nitrate and iron nitrate as precursors, with pH values controlled at 9, 10, and 11. The precipitates were then subjected to thermal treatment at 750 °C for 3 h to promote crystallization. Structural and morphological characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the sample prepared at pH 10 (NFO_pH 10) exhibited the highest crystallinity, a well-defined spinel structure, and the most uniform particle morphology with particles averaging 40 ± 1.4 nm in size. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that all samples delivered high initial discharge capacities above 929 mAh g−1. Among them, the NFO_pH 10 electrode showed superior electrochemical durability, maintaining a stable capacity of 871 mAh g−1 over 65 cycles at 0.1 A g−1, as well as strong rate performance (85.8% retention at 3 A g−1) and a significantly reduced charge transfer resistance (6.21 Ω). These findings suggest that NFO_pH 10 represents a potential candidate for high-performance negative electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries.
Graphical Abstract