Nonstoichiometric Cu_0.6Ni_0.4Co₂O₄ Nanowires as an Anode Material for High Performance Lithium Storage

Transition metal oxide is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Generally, the electrochemical property of transition metal oxides can be improved by optimizing their element components and controlling their nano-architecture. Herein, we designed nonstoichiometric Cu_0.6Ni_0.4Co₂O₄ nanowires for high performance lithium-ion storage. It is found that the specific capacity of Cu_0.6Ni_0.4Co₂O₄ nanowires remain 880 mAh g^-1 after 50 cycles, exhibiting much better electrochemical performance than CuCo₂O₄ and NiCo₂O₄. After experiencing a large current charge and discharge state, the discharge capacity of Cu_0.6Ni_0.4Co₂O₄ nanowires recovers to 780 mAh g^-1 at 50 mA g^-1, which is ca. 88% of the initial capacity. The high electrochemical performance of Cu_0.6Ni_0.4Co₂O₄ nanowires is related to their better electronic conductivity and synergistic effect of metals. This work may provide a new strategy for the design of multicomponent transition metal oxides as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.