A high-rate cathode material hybridized by in-site grown Ni–Fe layered double hydroxides and carbon black nanoparticles

Abstract

A facile hydrothermal fabrication was applied to hybridize in-site grown flower-like Ni–Fe layered double hydroxides (Ni–Fe LDHs) and carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. The well-conductive CB particles were dispersed homogeneously onto the petals of the Ni–Fe LDH flowers via a combination of electrostatic forces and ripening growth, and remarkably promoted the charge-transfer capability of the LDHs. The hybridized Ni–Fe LDH/CB composite electrode exhibited excellent rate performance that retained both a high capacity and steady cycle life at a large charge–discharge current, and was highly competitive serving as a high-rate alkaline battery cathode.