N-doped carbon coated Ga2O3 nanotubes as anode materials for Li-ion battery to achieve superior performance

Gallium oxide as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries has attracted attention because of its high specific capacity. As reported previously, N-doped carbon coated Ga2O3 nanopapers exhibited a high discharge capacity of 477 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1. But the rate performance and cycling stability of the Ga2O3–based anode still need to be improved. Herein, Ga2O3 nanotubes coated with N-doped carbon layers (Ga2O3/N-C NTs) were prepared using MoO3 nanorods as sacrificial templates followed by a polydopamine coating and heat treatment process. The resulting tubular structure provided cavities for volume changes of the Ga2O3 in the cycling process and shortened the migration path of Li ions and electrons. The N-doped carbon coated Ga2O3 NTs delivered a capacity of 1185.3 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 and outstanding stability of 535.5 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. This study supplies a novel method for preparing Ga2O3 anode materials to promote the performance of lithium-ion battery.