Abstract

This study reported the electrochemical performance of flower-like ZnO–CoO–C nanowall arrays as anodes of lithium-ion batteries. The arrays were fabricated through solution-immersion steps and subsequent calcination at 400 °C. At a rate of 0.5 C, the arrays exhibited a delithiation capacity of 438 mA h g⁻¹ at the 50th cycle. The arrays still delivered a reversible capacity of 224 mA h g⁻¹ at 2.0 C rate, much higher than those of the flower-like ZnO and ZnO–C nanowall arrays. The mechanism for the high capacity of flower-like ZnO–CoO–C nanowall arrays mainly resulted from the catalytic effect of Co phase on the decomposition of Li₂O and the conducting carbon layer formed on ZnO nanowalls. The present finding also provides a kind of nanostructured films that might be applied in solar cells and sensors, etc.

Highlights

► Flower-like ZnO–CoO–C nanowall arrays were fabricated through solution-immersion steps and subsequent calcinations. ► The arrays exhibited high capacity and rate capability as anodes of lithium-ion batteries. ► The catalytic effect of Co phase on the decomposition of Li₂O mainly account for the high capacity. ► The conducting carbon layer formed on ZnO nanowalls is responsible for the high rate capability.