Fabrication of 1D mesoporous NiO nano-rods as high capacity and long-life anode material for lithium ion batteries

Abstract In the present work, one–dimensional porous NiO nano-rods as an anode material were synthesized using facile hydrothermal synthesis method to improve the electrochemical performance for LIBs application. The NiO nano-rods were typically several hundred nanometers in length, which are composed by loosely stacked nanoparticles. It is believed that the obtained architecture with mesoporous structure can ensure rapid electrons/ions transfer, penetration of the electrolyte to the electrode surfaces and buffer the volume expansion of NiO during charge/discharge processes. When evaluated as anode material, the NiO nano-rods exhibit excellent rate performance and long-life cycling performance with high reversibility. The porous NiO nano-rods exhibit a capacity of 1029.3 mA h g−1 at 1C up to 100 cycles and even retains a reversible capacity of 548.4 mA h g−1 at 4C after 80 cycles. Thus, it is believed that the current strategy can be applicable to improve the electrochemical performances of various metal oxide electrodes in rechargeable secondary battery.