Battery (electricity)

Quantum mechanics

Composite number

Engineering

Oxide

Electrochemistry

Metallurgy

Materials science

Graphene

Power (physics)

Alkaline battery

Chemical engineering

Porosity

Physical chemistry

Physics

Nanotechnology

Hydrothermal circulation

Composite material

Chemistry

Electrode

Anode

Electrolyte

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

High-performance Fe3S4@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a novel anode material for alkaline rechargeable battery is successfully achieved via a facile hydrothermal method. The structural and electrochemical properties of the Fe3S4@rGO composites are evaluated systematically. It is interestingly found that increasing GO content effectively decreases the particle size of Fe3S4 in the composites. As expected, the Fe3S4@rGO composite with 10% rGO shows better high-rate capability and excellent cycling stability than the pure Fe3S4. At the rates of 0.2 C, 1.0 C, 2.0 C, 5.0 C, 10 C and 20 C, the Fe3S4@(10%)rGO can present specific discharge capacities of ~343.6, ~299.6, ~273.5, ~247.4, ~220.5, and ~164.6 mAh g−1, respectively. After 400 cycles at 1 C, the capacity loss is just approximately 3.2%. The improved performance is attributable to the addition of rGO and its high S content, eventually leading to more rapid charge transportation, enhanced reversibility, and a helpful porous anode structure. According to the outstanding electrochemical performance, it is believed that the Fe3S4@(10%)rGO is a competitive anode material to satisfy the requirements of rapid charge-discharge and long service life. Consequently, the present work offers a facile strategy to synthesize promising Fe3S4@rGO composite anode materials for alkaline secondary batteries.

Fe3S4@reduced graphene oxide composites as novel anode materials for high performance alkaline secondary batteries