Beyond Yolk–Shell Nanoparticles: Fe 3 O 4 @Fe 3 C Core@Shell Nanoparticles as Yolks and Carbon Nanospindles as Shells for Efficient Lithium Ion Storage
In order to well address the problems of large volume change and dissolution of Fe 3 O 4 nanomaterials during Li + intercalation/extraction, herein we demonstrate a one-step in situ nanospace-confined pyrolysis strategy for robust yolk–shell nanospindles with very sufficient internal void space (VSIVS) for high-rate and long-term lithium ion batteries (LIBs), in which an Fe 3 O 4 @Fe 3 C core@shell nanoparticle is well confined in the compartment of a hollow carbon nanospindle. This structure can not only introduce VSIVS to accommodate volume change of Fe 3 O 4 but also afford a dual shell of Fe 3 C and carbon to restrict Fe 3 O 4 dissolution, thus providing dual roles for greatly improving the capacity retention. Consequently, Fe 3 O 4 @Fe 3 C–C yolk–shell nanospindles deliver a high reversible capacity of 1128.3 mAh g –1 at even 500 mA g –1 , excellent high rate capacity (604.8 mAh g –1 at 2000 mA g – 1), and prolonged cycling life (maintaining 1120.2 mAh g –1 at 500 mA g –1 for 100 cycles) for LIBs, which are much better than those of Fe 3 O 4 @C core@shell nanospindles and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The present Fe 3 O 4 @Fe 3 C–C yolk–shell nanospindles are the most efficient Fe 3 O 4 -based anode materials ever reported for LIBs.