Ultrathin mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanosheets-constructed hierarchical clusters as high rate capability and long life anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Graphical abstract: Ultrathin mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanosheets-constructed hierarchical clusters (UMCN-HCs) have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method followed by a subsequent thermolysis treatment. When tested as anode materials for LIBs, UMCN-HCs achieve high reversible capacity, good long cycling life, and rate capability. - Highlights: • UMCN-HCs show high capacity, excellent stability, and good rate capability. • UMCN-HCs retain a capacity of 1067 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹. • UMCN-HCs deliver a capacity of 507 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 2 A g⁻¹. - Abstract: Herein, Ultrathin mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanosheets-constructed hierarchical clusters (UMCN-HCs) have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method followed by a subsequent thermolysis treatment at 600 °C in air. The products consist of cluster-like Co₃O₄ microarchitectures, which are assembled by numerous ultrathin mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanosheets. When tested as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, UMCN-HCs deliver a high reversible capacity of 1067 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. Even at 2 A g⁻¹, a stable capacity as high as 507 mAh g⁻¹ can be achieved after 500 cycles. The high reversible capacity, excellent cycling stability, and good rate capability of UMCN-HCs may be attributed to their mesoporous sheet-like nanostructure. The sheet-layered structure of UMCN-HCs may buffer the volume change during the lithiation-delithiation process, and the mesoporous characteristic make lithium-ion transfer more easily at the interface between the active electrode and the electrolyte.