NiFe2O4 nanoparticles/MWCNTs nanohybrid as anode material for lithium-ion battery

Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles were first prepared by co-precipitation route and then they were combined with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using ultra-sonication assisted method. A facile two-step method was used to synthesize NiFe2O4/MWCNTs nanohybrid as an anode material to modify the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion battery. For the first-time, Toluene was used as a dispersive/linkage medium for the synthesis of this nanohybrid material. The formation of inverse spinel cubic structure with no impurity was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average particle size of spherical nanoparticles was found about 36 nm NiFe2O4nanoparticles were embedded on the surface of MWCNTs. This nanohybrid material showed high specific capacity (i.e. 1302 mAh/g) and better cyclic performance (i.e. 871 mAh/g) after 25 cycles at 0.2 C-rate. More importantly, this showed excellent rate capability (i.e. 631 mAh/g) even at high 5 C-rate and returned to the initial capacity at 0.2C by giving 97% columbic efficiency.