Improving the Li-Ion Storage Performance of Layered Zinc Silicate through the Interlayer Carbon and Reduced Graphene Oxide Networks

A novel layered zinc silicate/carbon composite was fabricated through carbon embedment into the interlayers of zinc silicate through a hydrothermal method. The interlayer space could be effectively tuned from 1.22 to 3.37 nm by controlling the amount of carbon precursors. Such a layered zinc silicate/carbon structure promoted the lithium ions and electron transportation within the nanostructures, while the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) network improved the conductivity between nanostructures. Such a 3-D carbon based conductive network improved zinc silicates’ lithium storage property. After 50 cycles, two composite samples with different carbon loadings showed 778 mA h/g and 704 mA h/g, respectively.