Fe2O3 nanoparticle-functionalized N-doped carbon with interconnected, hierarchical porous structures as high-performance electrode for lithium ion batteries

Thanks to their fascinating physical properties such as high surface area, multidimensional electron transport pathways and good mechanical strength, three dimensionally (3D) interconnected carbon porous frameworks have emerged as attractive materials for various electrochemical energy storage/conversion devices, including Li-ion batteries (LIBs), Li−O2 batteries, Li−S batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. A hierarchically structured macro- and mesoporous N-doped carbon with dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NDC@Fe2O3) is prepared by thermal treatment of a novel composite composed by PMMA particles decorated by graphene oxide (GO), PPy and iron salts. The NDC@Fe2O3 composite exhibited high surface area with a hierarchical pores structure. Integrated as a lithium ion battery anode, NDC@Fe2O3 exhibited high reversible capacity of 930 mA h/g over 200 cycles. The combination of Fe2O3 nanoparticles with porous carbon to form hybrid anode has been an efficient way to maintain the electronic integrity of the whole electrode since the carbon acts as a buffer layer to accommodate the volume variation and to provide multidimensional electron transport pathways during the charge/discharge process