One-step synthesis of <i>α</i>-Fe₂O_{3–<i>δ</i>} as promising anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Flower-like α-Fe2O3−δ nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared α-Fe2O3−δ nanostructures exhibited a good cyclability and rate performance. The discharge capacity could retain as high as 1192.4 mAh g−1 (current density: 400 mA g−1) after 800 cycles, which is higher than the theoretical value of hematite. When the current density increased to 3200 mA g−1, the reversible capacity is about 660 mAh g−1. The good electrochemical performance of α-Fe2O3−δ nanostructures could be attributed to the combination of both nano-structuring strategy and oxygen vacancies in the as-prepared materials, which improve the structure mechanism strength, electric conductivity and facilitate the diffusion of Li ions.