In Situ Growth of ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticle Hybridized with rGO for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

ZnFe2O4is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity, but its practical use is limited by poor conductivity and large volume changes during cycling. To address these issues, a ZnFe2O4-reduced graphene oxide (Z-F-rGO) composite was fabricated via solvothermal synthesis and calcination, with Z-F nanoparticles in situ anchored on rGO sheets. Characterizations (XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM, TEM) confirm the formation of highly crystalline spinel Z-F with good interfacial contact with rGO. The Z-F-rGO electrode shows excellent electrochemical performance, maintaining a reversible capacity of 985.4 mA h g−1after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g−1, significantly higher than the 498.2 mA h g−1of the Z-F. At 1.0 A g−1, the Z-F-rGO electrode retains 959.4 mA h g−1after 300 cycles, while the Z-F electrode shows a capacity of 441.3 mA h g−1. CV analysis indicates good reversibility, while EIS and GITT reveal reduced charge-transfer resistance and enhanced Li+diffusion. This work provides an efficient strategy for scalable Z-F-rGO composites, offering a promising approach for high-performance LIB anodes.