Electrochemical performance of one-pot hydrothermal-derived bismuth oxide/commercial activated carbon/graphite composite

Bismuth oxide/commercial activated carbon/graphite composite was successfully synthesised using the hydrothermal method with time variations and characterisation using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray mapping, Gas Sorption Analyzer, and battery performance tests including analysis of electrical conductivity, charge–discharge, and cyclic voltammetry. The formation of bismuth oxide is indicated by the presence of Bi-O and Bi-O-Bi groups and the presence of α-Bi 2 O 3 crystal structure. In addition, based on SEM mapping, bismuth oxide particle is well distributed on the composite having rod-like shape morphology. The best electrochemical behaviour is shown by composite synthesised longer that is 1.35 × 10 −2 S.m −1 , 285.882 mAhg -1 , 131.745 mAhg −1 for electrical conductivity, charge specific capacity, and discharge specific capacity, respectively. These results open a way for the composite as Li-ion battery anode.