Dopamine-assisted one-pot synthesis of zinc ferrite-embedded porous carbon nanospheres for ultrafast and stable lithium ion batteries.

Polydopamine-derived carbon (C-PDA) nanospheres embedded with zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) are synthesized by in situ polymerization of dopamine with zinc and iron species followed by carbonization. The composite nanospheres contain ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles ∼8 nm in size well dispersed in porous C-PDA. The unique structure and morphology endow the nanospheres with excellent rate capability and cycling stability for use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries.