Li-cycling properties of molten salt method prepared nano/submicrometer and micrometer-sized CuO for lithium batteries.

We report the synthesis of CuO material by molten salt method at a temperature range, 280 to 950 °C for 3 h in air. This report includes studies on the effect of morphology, crystal structure and electrochemical properties of CuO prepared at different temperatures. Obtained CuO was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area methods. Samples prepared at ≥410 °C showed a single-phase material with a lattice parameter value of a = 4.69 Å, b = 3.43 Å, c = 5.13 Å and surface area values are in the range 1.0-17.0 m(2) g(-1). Electrochemical properties were evaluated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic cycling studies. CV studies showed a minor difference in the peak potentials depending on preparation temperature and all compounds exhibit a main anodic peak at ~2.45 V and cathodic peaks at ~0.85 V and ~1.25 V vs Li. CuO prepared at 750 °C showed high and stable capacity of ~620 mA h g(-1) at the end of 40th cycle.