Reprocessable squeezing electrode fabrication of olive-like Fe/Co/O nanoparticle@three dimensional nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxides for high performance lithium batteries

Abstract

A one step in situ synthesis approach is developed to construct 3D nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxides, in which olive-like multi-component metal oxides are homogeneously dispersed. The novel hybrid nanoarchitecture shows some particular properties derived from synergistic effects. The size of Fe/Co/O oxides is reduced and better controlled compared to that of individual oxides due to mutual dispersant interactions. Furthermore, the positive synergistic interaction between heterogeneous oxides and graphene nanosheets has effective control on the particle size and dispersion of nanoparticles. Taking advantage of the flexibility and the cohesiveness of graphene nanosheets, the obtained composite can be directly processed into a binder-free electrode through a unique time-saving “squeezing” process. The obtained electrode possesses a reprocessable feature, which provides possibilities for convenient storage and quick fabrication at any time and presents attractive electrochemical performance of robust long-term capability retention (562 mA h g⁻¹ after 300 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹) and superior rate performances (1162 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹, 737 mA h g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹, and 585 mA h g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹).