Abstract
Nowadays, 2D nanosheets or nanoplatelets have attracted great attention due to their wide applications. However, the synthesis of 2D α-Fe2O3 nanosheets with well-defined hexagonal shape is extremely challenging, because the selective growth along one specific facet is very hard to be realized. In our work, we studied the non-capping ligand mediated reaction within graphene layer chamber, and successfully synthesized α-Fe2O3 hexagonal nanoplatelets sandwiched between graphene layers (HP-Fe–G). These materials exhibit an improved electrochemical performance compared with the pre-existing α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles loaded graphene (G-Fe2O3) composites because of the uniqueness of such architectures: thin nanoplatelets, large enough sandwiched spaces to buffer the volume expansion and N-doped graphene. HP-Fe–G delivered an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 1100mAh/g after 50 cycles, thus higher than their theoretical value (926mAh/g); while G-Fe2O3 composites showed relatively low capacity retention even after only 20 cycles (582mAh/g). In addition, HP-Fe–G also reveal superior rate capability, 887mAh/g at 1C; in comparison, this value was only 135mAh/g at 1C for G-Fe2O3.
We developed a new strategy to prepare α-Fe2O3 hexagonal nanoplatelets sandwiched between N-doped graphene layers and revealed the non-capping ligand mediated reaction mechanism in such graphene confined reaction chamber. When use as Li-battery anodes, these materials showed an enhanced electrochemical performance compared with graphene/α-Fe2O3 composites, the enhancement can be attributed to the combinative merits of their unique architectures: nanosized α-Fe2O3 hexagonal nanoplatelets, sandwiched structures, and N-doped grapheme [Display omitted] .
► α-Fe2O3 hexagonal nanoplatelets were successfully fabricated between N-doped graphene layers. ► The formation mechanism, non-capping ligand mediated reaction within graphene layers, was carefully studied. ► The nanocomposite structures led to improved electrochemical performance.