Sponge-like porous Ni_1.8Fe_1.2O₄ nanocubes as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Sponge-like porous Ni_1.8Fe_1.2O₄ nanocubes were prepared by heating Prussian blue analogue KNi_xFe_3−x(CN)₆·nH₂O nanocubes. It is showed that the nanocubes exhibit nanoscale particles, multiple through-hole frameworks and high surface area owing to the emission organic molecules, such as CO_x and NO_y, during the heat treatment process in air at 300 °C. When it is used as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode material shows an outstanding rate performance with advanced capacities of 1268, 1189, 1156, 1052, 1028 and 858 mAh g⁻¹ at 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 mA g⁻¹, respectively. The sponge-like porous and large specific surface area of nanocubes shorten the diffusion path for Li ion and electron and evidently mitigation bulk effects during discharge/charge process, which effectively improve electrochemical performance of LIBs. These results show that the sponge-like porous Ni_1.8Fe_1.2O₄ nanocubes have a great application value as LIBs anode in view of its facile and effective preparation technology and excellent electrochemical performance.