Preparation And Electrochemical Performance Of Co₃O₄Nanowire/Carbon Cloth Flexible Anode For Lithium Battery

Flexible lithium battery has attracted extensive attention because of theirapplications in special working conditions. In this paper, we successfully preparedCo₃O₄nanowire arrays/carbon cloth flexible lithium battery anode by hydrothermalmethod and the annealing process. Using ALD and impregnation method to modifythe surface of the flexible electrode. The composition and morphologies of theprepared samples were investigated by XRD, SEM and TEM ect. Theelectrochemical properties of the prepared samples were investigated by charge-discharge tests, CV test and EIS test.We got Co₃O₄nanowire arrays precursor(Co（CO₃）_0.5OH H₂O) attached tothe surface of the carbon cloth by hydrothermal method. After annealing, theytransformed into Co₃O₄nanowire arrays. The morphologies of nanowire arraysobtained in different hydrothermal conditionns are quite different. According to theSEM result, optimal hydrothermal process is reactiong for5h at120℃. To avoiddamage to the arrays and complete transformation, the optimal annealingtemperature is selected at330℃and try to slow heating rate.According to the obtained optimum process, we prepared in three differentmorphology Co₃O₄nanowire arrays by changing the composition of reactants andtested their electrochemical properties. Curling nanowire array material showed avery excellent cycle stability at different charge-discharge rates. The capacity ofneedle nanowire arrays with good dispersion was close to1000mAh/g.By using ALD method to deposit ultrathin SnO₂, the capacity of electrodematerial has increased. Controling ALD deposition process, we can improve thecapacity and cycling performance at the same time. In this paper, after ALDmodification, the capacity of electrode material has reached1254.6mAh/g.A part of carbon materials coated by dipping distributes at the surface ofCo₃O₄nanowire particles. Other formed carbon film between Co₃O₄nanowires.This multi-coated structure can significantly improve the Co₃O₄nanowirearrays/carbon cloth electrode’s cycling stability. The capacity of electrode materialdecreased by only8%after50cycles in1000mA/g discharge current density.