Zinc‐Triazolate Metal‐Organic Framework Assisted Synthesis of Germanium Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon as Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract Germanium (Ge) is demonstrated to be prospective as a lithium‐ion battery anode material, yet the cycling stability is undermined by substantial volume fluctuations, restricting its viability for practical applications. Here, we present a facile Zn‐based metal−organic framework (MOF) engaged route to produce Ge nanoparticles in situ encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped mesoporous carbon (denoted as Ge@N‐C) as an anode material. This method uses a zinc‐triazolate MOF (MET‐6) and commercial GeO 2 as the hybrid carbon and Ge precursors. After a heating treatment, the Ge@N‐C composite is readily obtained along with the simultaneous thermal decomposition of MET‐6 and the reduction of GeO 2 . Benefiting from the mesoporous structure and high electrical conductivity of N−C, along with the strong interaction between Ge and N−C, the obtained Ge@N‐C electrode exhibits a significant reversible charge capacity of 1012.8 mAh g −1 after 150 cycles at 0.1 A g −1 , and excellent rate capability. Furthermore, a reversible charge capacity of 521.1 mAh g −1 can be maintained at 5.0 A g −1 after 1000 cycles.