Synthesis and Performance of CuO with Complex Hollow Structure as Anode Material for Lithium Secondary Batteries

The complex hollow CuO spheres with multi-shelled and rattle-type structures were successfully synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) multi-lamellar vesicles as soft templates. The physical properties of materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM). The electrochemical properties were measured to investigate the galvanostatic charge-discharge ability. The directly synthesized CuO powder was found to have single, multi-shelled or rattled-type hollow spheres structure. These CuO nano-structures were used as anode material in a lithium secondary battery. The cell with the complex hollow CuO nano-architecture showed that electrochemical performance toward Li uptake-release as anode material in lithium secondary batteries have good retention of discharge capacity. It is attributed to their chemical/mechanical robustness buffer of the as-prepared complex hollow CuO nano-structures. Therefore, the complex hollow CuO sphere provides good electrochemical performance as anode for lithium secondary batteries.