Cobalt oxide hollow microspheres with micro- and nano-scale composite structure: Fabrication and electrochemical performance

Co3O4 hollow microspheres with micro- and nano-scale composite structure self-assembled by nanosheets were successfully fabricated by the template-free wet-chemical approach. This method is simple, facile and effective. The Co3O4 hollow microspheres with good purity and homogeneous size were well characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform IR (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP). The formation mechanism was deeply studied. The micro- and nano-scale composite structure constructed by the porous nanosheets promotes to improve the electrochemical properties of Co3O4 hollow microspheres. The high discharge capacity of 1048 mAh g−1 indicates it to be the potential application in electrode materials of Li-ion battery.