Enhanced performance of alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with optimized graphene coated layer as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Summary A series of different α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles composites containing different amounts of graphene coatings have been successfully prepared using a simple electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) method. The structure and electrochemical properties of these α-Fe 2 O 3 @graphene composites have been investigated. The α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles composite containing 40 wt% graphene coating exhibits the highest specific capacity (385 mAh g −1 ) under 1000 mA g −1 , resulting in superior cycle stability with no downward trend after 500 cycles. These results demonstrate that graphene coatings can be used to enhance the electrochemical properties and morphological stability of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles as anodic materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The low-energy self-assembly method employed in the paper has good potential for the broad-scale preparation of other graphene-modified materials because of its simplicity and the relatively low temperature conditions.