A novel approach to facilely synthesize mesoporous ZnFe2O4 nanorods for lithium ion batteries

Despite the fact that ZnFe 2 O 4 has various advantages as promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), ZnFe 2 O 4 chronically suffers from limited cycle life, originating from poor electronic conductivity and huge volume changes. In this study, we address these traditional issues of ZnFe 2 O 4 by fabricating a mesoporous nanorod structure through a novel, facile and scalable co-precipitation approach followed by thermal decomposition. The unique nanostructure not only effectively shortens the pathway for Li + diffusion, but also provides a high porosity to effectively tolerate volume variation during charge/discharge processes. The reversible capacity of ZnFe 2 O 4 can still reach 983 mAh g −1  at a specific current of 100 mA g −1 after 50 cycles. Mesoporous ZnFe 2 O 4 nanorod could be demonstrated as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.