Interface-engineered hematite nanocones as binder-free electrodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) has been regarded as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity, natural abundance, and environmental friendliness. However, there is no effective method to overcome the poor conductivity and cycling stability. In this work, novel one-dimensional α-Fe₂O₃ nanocone arrays (NCs) were prepared by facile two-step thermal oxidation and reduction in an inert atmosphere. The α-Fe₂O₃ NCs exhibited an enhanced electrochemical performance, including high specific capacity (968 mA h g⁻¹ and 3872 mA h cm⁻³) and excellent cyclability (86% retention after 1000 cycles), which are much better than those of the state-of-the-art α-Fe₂O₃ anodes.