MOF-derived 3D hollow porous carbon/graphene composites for advanced lithium-ion battery anodes

MOF-derived 3D hollow porous carbon/graphene composites (HPCGCs) are fabricated through a facile solvent method with subsequent carbonization. In a typical synthesis process, hollow zeoliticimidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles are prepared on graphene oxide layers to set up a 3D structure. After carbonization, hollow porous carbon/graphene composites are synthesized, which serve as active materials in lithium-ion battery anodes and exhibit high specific capacity, promising cycling stability and rate capability. The superior performance is attributed to the synergistic effects between hollow carbon nanoparticles and graphene layers within the 3D structure of the composites, which enable fast transportation of both Li+ and electrons. The composites also have structural integrity to ensure stable long-time cycling. Consequently, the composites present a specific capacity of 849.5 ​mA ​h ​g−1 at 0.2 ​A ​g−1 after 200 cycles and of 403.1 ​mA ​h ​g−1 at 5 ​A ​g−1 after 1000 cycles in the cycling test. Besides, they present a specific capacity of 200.6 ​mA ​h ​g−1 at 10 ​A ​g−1 in the rate capability test.