Fe₃O₄–Graphene Nanocomposites with Improved Lithium Storage and Magnetism Properties

In this paper, we proposed a facile one-step strategy to prepare graphene-Fe 3 O 4 (GN–Fe 3 O 4 ) nanocomposites under hydrothermal conditions, where the reduction process of graphite oxide (GO) sheets into GN was accompanied by the generation of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The reduction extent of GO by this process could be comparable to that by conventional methods. A transmission electron microscopy image has shown that the as-formed Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles with a diameter as small as 7 nm were densely and uniformly deposited on GN sheets, and, as a result, the aggregating of the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles was effectively prevented. The GN–Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites exhibit improved cycling stability and rate performances as a potential anode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries. In addition, the GN–Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior, making them promising candidates for practical applications in the fields of bionanotechnology/controlled targeted drug delivery.