Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Porous α-Fe2O3 Nanospheres Anode Materials for Na-Ion Batteries

Abstract

With the development of large-scale energy storage, sodium-ion batteries have gradually received more attention. Iron oxide is cheap, with non-toxicity and high theoretical capacity which make it promising as the dominant anode material for commercial scale sodium storage. Porous α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> nanospheres were prepared by the simple hydrothermal method and carbon-template method. The nano-material exhibits high-rate capability and long-term cyclability when applied as an anode material for Na-ion batteries (SIBs). As a result, porous α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> nanospheres show an initial discharge specific capacity up to 520 mAh/g at a current density of 50 mA/g. Due to their simple synthesis technique and high electrochemical performance, porous α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> nanospheres have a great potential as anode materials for rechargeable SIBs. The unique structure of the porous α-Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> nanospheres offers a synergistic effect to alleviate stress, accommodate large volume change, and facilitate the transfer of electrons and electrolyte during prolonged cycling.