Nanostructured reduced graphene oxide/Fe2O3 composite as a high-performance anode material for lithium ion batteries

Reduced graphene oxide/Fe(2)O(3) composite was prepared using a facile two-step synthesis by homogeneous precipitation and subsequent reduction of the G-O with hydrazine under microwave irradiation to yield reduced graphene oxide (RG-O) platelets decorated with Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles. As an anode material for Li-ion batteries, the RG-O/Fe(2)O(3) composite exhibited discharge and charge capacities of 1693 and 1227 mAh/g, respectively, normalized to the mass of Fe(2)O(3) in the composite (and ∼1355 and 982 mAh/g, respectively, based on the total mass of the composite), with good cycling performance and rate capability. Characterization shows that the Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surface of the RG-O platelets in the composite. The total specific capacity of RG-O/Fe(2)O(3) is higher than the sum of pure RG-O and nanoparticle Fe(2)O(3), indicating a positive synergistic effect of RG-O and Fe(2)O(3) on the improvement of electrochemical performance. The synthesis approach presents a promising route for a large-scale production of RG-O platelet/metal oxide nanoparticle composites as electrode materials for Li-ion batteries.