Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for Li ion battery anode

Nanostructured Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sonication assisted co-precipitation method. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and BET surface area analysis confirmed the formation of similar to 20 nm crystallites that constitute similar to 200 nm nanoclusters. Galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling of the Fe3O4 nanoaprticles in half cell configuration with Li at 100 mA g(-1) current density exhibited specific reversible capacity of 1000 mAh g(-1). The cells showed stability at high current charge-discharge rates of 4000 mA g(-1) and very good capacity retention up to 200 cycles. After multiple high current cycling regimes, the cell always recovered to full reversible capacity of similar to 1000 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C rate. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.