Nanoporous carbon nanowires derived from one-dimensional metal-organic framework core-shell hybrids for enhanced electrochemical energy storage

One-dimensional core-shell metal-organic framework (MOF) hybrids is expected to combine the merits of one-dimensional structure and core-shell configuration, which shows superiority to the three-dimensional counterparts and the single core or shell MOFs. However, the construction of one-dimensional MOF core-shell hybrids still remains challenging to date. In this manuscript, one-dimensional MOF core-shell heterogeneous nanowires are successfully fabricated via a solvent-assisted transformation approach. After a simple carbonization treatment, nanoporous carbon nanowires derived from the prepared MOF core-shell hybrids can be obtained, in which a nitrogen-doped carbon shell is tightly decorated on a graphite carbon core. Due to such an unique nanostructure, the core-shell MOF-derived nanoporous carbon nanowires exhibit enhanced specific capacity, rate and cycling performance for electrochemical Li+ storage in comparison to the counterparts derived from single core and shell MOFs. The present study clearly reveals the importance of MOF structural engineering. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.