α-Fe2O3 anchored on porous N doped carbon derived from green microalgae via spray pyrolysis as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

The α-Fe2O3@nitrogen doped carbon (as donated α-Fe2O3@NC) composites derived from green microalgae was synthesized using one-pot spray pyrolysis, which showed a high discharge capacity of 1281.5 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 as anode materials for lithium ion storage. They also provided good rate performance in a range of 200 mA g−1–1000 mA g−1, and maintained a capacity of 92% after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1. It demonstrated not only improved electrical conductivity but also effective prevention of the volume expansion of iron oxide during battery charge/discharge by uniformly forming iron oxide nanoparticles on microalgae via spray pyrolysis.