α-Fe₂O₃ Nanorods as Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Hydrothermally synthesized single-crystalline hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanorods were investigated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. Electrodes prepared with this material exhibited initial reversible capacities of 908 mAh g–1 at 0.2 C rate and 837 mAh g–1 at 0.5 C rate, and these capacities were completely retained after numerous cycles. The α-Fe2O3 nanorods average ∼40 nm in diameter and ∼400 nm in length providing a short path for lithium-ion diffusion and effective accommodation of the strain generated from volume expansion during the lithiation/delithiation process.