Supramolecular hydrogel directed self-assembly of C- and N-doped hollow CuO as high-performance anode materials for Li-ion batteries.

A novel hollow-structured CuO derived from chitosan-coated Cu/Cu2O composite hollow spheres was mass produced via a supramolecular hydrogel templating method and homogeneously co-doped with C and N. Evaluation of the as-produced co-doped CuO hollow spheres as anode materials for Li ion batteries showed that they had superior electrochemical properties.