A facile route to prepare mixed transition metal oxide yolk-shell microspheres for enhanced lithium storage

A coordination co-precipitation route followed by calcined process was developed to prepare mixed transition metal oxide microspheres with yolk-shell structure. ZnCo2O4, NiCo2O4, MnCo2O4, ZnMn2O4 and CoMn2O4, have been successfully fabricated, which demonstrates the universality of this route. As a promising anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), ZnCo2O4 was investigated as a typical example, which showed a remarkable reversible capacity of 1063 mAh g-1 after 50 cycles at the current density of 200 mA g-1 and good rate capability of 839 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles at large current density of 900 mA g-1. This work makes it possible for extensive potential of general route to synthesis of yolk-shell microspheres for next-generation energy conversion and storage devices.