Biotemplated Nanocomposites of Transition-Metal Oxides/Carbon Nanotubes with Highly Stable and Efficient Electrochemical Interfaces for High-Power Lithium-Ion Batteries

Kinetic stability of transition-metal oxide (TMO) anodes is of significant importance for high-power lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Stable interfaces between TMOs and electrical nanomaterials could enhance high-power performance. In this study, we report a biotemplate-based approach for securing structural and electrochemical interfaces between active materials and conductive nanomaterials and demonstrate highly stable and high-power Co3O4 anodes for LIBs. Co3O4 nanoflower electrodes are synthesized on an M13 phage-templated conductive nanonetwork of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Co3O4 nanoflowers on the bionanonetwork, Co3O4/SWCNT–M13, exhibit significantly improved cycling performance at a high rate and rate capabilities. The synergistic effect of the conductive cores, nanoflower morphologies, and secured interfaces between the Co3O4 and SWCNT of Co3O4/SWCNT–M13 enables an excellent specific capacity of 1283.5 mA h g–1 at a high rate of 2 A g–1 after 500 cycles. Our strategy could provide a versatile and powerful platform for structuring highly stable and high-power TMO anodes and thus would benefit other oxide materials that suffer from poor kinetic performance and mechanical instability.