Electrochemical properties of nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded carbon as a lithium battery anode

Nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded carbon material was prepared by loading Fe2O3 on carbon using a chemical method. Fe(NO3)3 was impregnated on carbon in an aqueous solution, and the mixture was dried and then calcined for 1 h at 400 °C in flowing Ar. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that small Fe2O3 particles (a few tenths of nanometers) were distributed on the carbon surface. The obtained nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded carbon material acted as an anode in a Li cell. High charge capacities of over 1000 mAh g−1 (reduction of Fe2O3) in the first charge process suggested that Fe3+ in Fe2O3 was electrochemically reduced to Fe0. Investigation of the charge material by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that Fe3+ is reduced to Fe0. Nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded acetylene black (AB), which, due to the larger surface area of AB, gave a greater distribution of nano-sized Fe2O3 particles than graphite, provided a larger capacity than nano-sized Fe2O3-loaded graphite.