Fabrication of NiO nanoflakes and its application in lithium ion battery

NiO nanoflakes with mean size about 2 μm and mean thickness about 20 nm have been successfully synthesized via a simple two-step method. Electrochemical properties of the as-synthesized NiO nanoflakes as anode electrode of lithium ion batteries were studied by conventional charge/discharge tests, showing initial discharge and charge capacities of 1213 mAh g−1 and 902 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1. After 50 cycles, the discharge and charge capacities of NiO nanoflakes electrode were 1015 and 990 mAh g−1, respectively. The first discharge and charge capacities of the as-prepared NiO electrode were 749 and 541 mAh g−1 at a current density of 800 mA g−1, being of 578 and 567 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles.