Core-shells on nanosheets: Fe3O4@carbon-reduced graphene oxide composites for lithium-ion storage

Fabrication of core-shells on sheets is considered as an effective strategy to explore novel functional composite materials. Herein, a three-component composite was successfully constructed by dispersing and anchoring carbon-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticle core-shell structures onto reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. Carbonization of glucose polymer formed carbon shells existing between the Fe3O4 particles and rGO sheets. The structure of core-shells placed on rGO sheets formed close connections and high structural stability to the Fe3O4@C-rGO (FCG) composite. Reversible specific capacity up to 884 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C with good recyclability was achieved with FCG as an anode material of lithium-ion batteries. These unique three-dimensional structures of core-shells on sheets are beneficial to enhancing lithium-ion battery storage capacity, cycle stability, and rate performances.