Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Fe3O4 Nanoparticles as High Performance Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries

A composite of reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) decorated densely with 20 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles has been prepared by a facile solvothermal method. The Fe3O4/r-GO composites are used as the anode material for lithium ion batteries, which show an extremely high initial discharge specific capacity of 1702 mAh/g. Compared with the pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the composite anode exhibits a higher capacity retention capability since its specific capacity fades very slowly and retains a value of 711 mAh/g after 30 cycles. The r-GO sheets worked as an ultra-thin and conductive substrate can not only prevent the detachment and agglomeration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, but also compensate for the volume change of Fe3O4 nanoparticles during the charge-discharge cycles, and thus extend the cycling life of the Fe3O4/r-GO composites electrode.