One-pot synthesis of carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ with excellent electrochemical performance as an anode in lithium ion battery

Carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ lithium anode with nano-size has been successfully synthesized by a one-pot green-chemical hydrothermal reaction with glucose as carbon source. An analysis of electrochemical performance showed that the prepared carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ anode exhibited high capacity retention. The initial charge-discharge specific capacity was approximately 1388 mAhg^-1 and 1008 mAhg^-1, respectively. And a reversible specific capacity could be maintained about 700 mAhg^-1 after 100 cycles at a constant current density of 100 mAg^-1, indicating good cycle ability compared with majority reported literatures. The excellent electrochemical performance was related to the carbon coating and nanoparticles, with which the electric conductivity of the material increased and the volume expansion and pulverization of the particles became increasingly reduced.