Catalytic-type Fe3O4–Fe–C anode materials for high-rate lithium-ion batteries

Fe3O4–Fe–C nanosheets composed of nanopores with an average size of 9.1 nm and ~ 60 nm thicked carbon nanosheets inlaid homogenously with ~ 13.4 nm Fe3O4–Fe nanocrystals are successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal process and a subsequent annealing treatment. These porous Fe3O4–Fe–C nanosheets used as catalytic-type anode material for lithium-ion batteries exhibit a high reversible capacity of 1041.3 mAh g−1, 88.0% of the second cycle discharge capacity after 200 cycles at 1 A g−1, and a high-rate delivery of 820.0 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 6 A g−1. The superior performance of Fe3O4–Fe–C nanosheets was attributed to the catalytic effect of Fe nanoparticles on the electrochemical activity of Fe3O4. These results revealed the potential applications of Fe3O4–Fe–C nanostructure materials as catalytic-type anodes for high-rate LIBs.