Porous CuO microsphere architectures as high-performance cathode materials for aluminum-ion batteries

Abstract

Cathode materials with a porous structure are important in the development of aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs). In this research, porous microspheric copper oxide (PM-CuO) composed of stacked numerous bitty nanorods has been synthesized for use in AIBs. Using a simple one-pot hydrothermal process, the-as-synthesized PM-CuO possess a large specific surface area of 21.61 m² g⁻¹ and a pore volume of 0.179 cm³ g⁻¹. These unique porous features allow PM-CuO to improve the electrochemical performance in the assembled AIBs, which exhibit a high initial charge and discharge capacity of 270.62 and 250.12 mA h g⁻¹ (current density of 50 mA g⁻¹), respectively. In the cycling performance, discharge capacity was observed to remain over 130, 121 and 112 mA h g⁻¹ at current densities of 50, 100 and 200 mA g⁻¹, respectively. The favorable properties of PM-CuO cathode materials are attributed to the unique porous structure and this makes them a promising potential material for use as energy storage devices.