Coherent anode based on mesoporous carbon integrated ZnCo₂O₄ composite for efficient lithium-ion batteries

The great energy storage potential of zinc-cobalt oxides (ZnCo₂O₄) has made them a popular choice for high-efficiency anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Moreover, ZnCo₂O₄-carbon composites have shown great capability as an anode in LIBs owing to their marvelous electrochemical properties and long-term cycling stability. This work investigates the performance of novel composite material between 3D spinel ZnCo₂O₄ and mesoporous carbon particles (MC) as anode for LIBs. ZnCo₂O₄@MC composite has been fabricated by simple ultrasonication process under ambient conditions and well-elucidated in terms of morphological, crystal structure, electrical, and electrochemical properties. The structural characteristics of composites are evidenced that ZnCo₂O₄ and MC have been well-intermixed and showed porous behavior. The highly porous structure of the ZnCo₂O₄@MC composite is exploited to be utilized as an effective anode for high performance LIBs. As compared to the pristine ZnCo₂O₄ anode (559.58 mAh g⁻¹), ZnCo₂O₄@MC1 anode exhibits the high discharge capacity of 1282 mAh g⁻¹ after 60 cycles at current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹. In addition, the ZnCo₂O₄@MC1 composite demonstrates remarkable structural stability after 500 cycles, maintaining its morphological appearances and crystalline phases. ZnCo₂O₄@MC1 anode considerably stabilizes the coulombic efficiency of ∼99.6% over 500 cycles, which might result from the rapid lithiation and delithiation processes over ZnCo₂O₄@MC1 anode. According to these findings, the ZnCo₂O₄@MC composite may prove to be a highly effective anode material for energy storage devices.