A facile synthesis of core-shell structured ZnO@C nanosphere and their high performance for lithium ion battery anode

A core-shell structured design of ZnO@C nanosphere with uniform particle size of 200 nm has been successfully synthesized by a facile route - extended Stöber method. The well designed ZnO@C nanosphere shows a typical core-shell structure with a ~ 160 nm core and ~20 nm carbon shell which could improve their stability and performance as electrodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). When used as anode materials for LIBs, the core-shell structured ZnO@C nanospheres give a reversible capacity of 496 mA h g-1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 82.5 mA g-1. The amazing enhanced electrical performance can be contributed to the core-shell structured, which prevents the pulverization of anode during charge/discharge process.