Hollow Ball-in-Ball CoxFe3-xO4 Nanostructures: High-Performance Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery.

The intrinsic electronic conductivity can be improved by doping efficiently. CoxFe3-xO4 nanostructures have been synthesized for the first time to improve the conductivity of lithium battery electrode. The solid solution CoxFe3--xO4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), Raman spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that the doping enlarge the lattice spacing but the structure of Co3O4 is stable in the Li-ion intercalation/deintercalation process. The AC impedance spectrum reveals the conductivity is well improved. In addition, the solid solution CoxFe3-xO4 exhibit excellent electrochemical characteristics. The electrodes with 20% molar ratio of Fe ions own a reversible capacity of 650.2 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1) after 100 cycles.