Zn₂SiO₄ urchin-like microspheres: controlled synthesis and application in lithium-ion batteries
By Zhang, Shaoyan; Ren, Lei & Peng, Shengjie
Published in CrystEngComm
The Royal Society of Chemistry
2014
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) Zn₂SiO₄ urchin-like microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple and facile hydrothermal method without using any surfactants or additives. The as-prepared microspheres were built by one-dimensional (1D) nanorods, which interconnected with each other through self-assembly. The reaction conditions influencing the morphologies of the products such as reaction times, reaction temperatures, and pH values were systematically investigated. The stepwise self-assembly formation mechanism for the hierarchical urchin-like microspheres was proposed on the basis of a series of time-dependent experiments. As a demonstration of the functional properties of such 3D architecture, Zn₂SiO₄ was investigated as a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It was found that the Zn₂SiO₄ urchin-like microspheres exhibited a high discharge capacity and good cycling stability, indicating that they are promising anode candidates in LIBs. Such attractive lithium storage performance presented an alternative anode material for high-performance LIBs.