Enhanced electroactivity with Li in Fe₃O₄/MWCNT nanocomposite electrodes

Highlights: • Facile one-pot colloidal synthesis of Fe₃O₄/MWCNT composites. • Favorable utilization of the high surface area by the nanoparticles and in the Li electrochemical reactions. • Enhanced electrochemical performance (large reversible capacity, cycle life, and rate capability) of Fe₃O₄/MWCNT composites. - Abstract: We demonstrate a facile synthetic procedure to obtain Fe₃O₄/MWCNT (MWCNT = multiwalled carbon nanotube) composite electrode via the one-pot colloidal preparation method at 180 °C with a surface functionalized MWCNT. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were successfully precipitated on the surface of MWCNT with uniform size of approximately 10 nm. Fe₃O₄/MWCNT composite electrode exhibits a better reversible capacity, cycle life, and rate capability compared with the Fe₃O₄ powder electrode by higher electronic conductivity and stable structural properties with the support of MWCNT