Mesoporous Mulberry-like CoMoO₄: A Highly Suitable Anode Material for Sodium Ion Batteries over Lithium Ion Batteries

In this work, we have proposed a strategy for the synthesis of a mulberry-like mesoporous CoMoO4 anode material using a hydrothermal method with improved electrochemical performances for both lithium ion and sodium ion battery application. The electrochemical performances of the electrode are largely dependent on the morphology of the constituent material; thus, a unique mulberry-like mesoporous morphology of CoMoO4 was fabricated using a surface-active agent. The formation of this unique morphology is believed to take place due to the formation of primary nanoscaled particles at first followed by the arrangement into a mulberry-like mesoporous morphology. Among all the investigated architectures of CoMoO4 so far, this mulberry-like mesoporous morphology provides a high surface area, numerous reaction sites, and a high permeation of electrolytes, giving rise to an excellent electrochemical performance. More precisely, the mulberry-like CoMoO4 electrode shows a high reversible discharge capacity and long capacity retention (i.e., 1329.5 and 171.5 mAh g–1 at 200 mA g–1 after 100 cycles and 333.7 and 99.22 mAh g–1 at 4000 mA g–1 after 50 cycles for lithium and sodium ion batteries, respectively) due to these distinctive structural features. However, to choose the superior suitability of CoMoO4 for lithium and sodium ion batteries, a cyclability test was separately performed at a high current density of 1000 mA g–1. The obtained electrochemical data as well as ex situ SEM result highly favor the CoMoO4 electrode for sodium ion battery performances. Therefore, the proposed synthesis strategy, which produces a mulberry-like morphology of CoMoO4, makes it an alternative prominent high-performance anode for sodium ion battery applications.