Tailoring CoO–ZnO nanorod and nanotube arrays for Li-ion battery anode materials

Hydrothermal treatment of cobalt nitrate in the presence of ZnO nanorod templates results in the generation of free-standing CoO–ZnO composite arrays on a copper substrate. The result shows that tuning the molar concentration of cobalt nitrate can controllably prepare CoO–ZnO nanotube and ZnCo2O4 hierarchical nanorod structures. The electrochemical properties of the resultant nanorod and nanotube arrays are investigated. Due to the short insertion and extraction length for lithium ions, the free space between the adjacent tubes or rods, and the high contact area, the as-prepared one-dimensional CoO–ZnO composites exhibit excellent cycling performance and high capacities as anode materials for Li-ion batteries.