Carbon-decorated flower-like ZnO as high-performance anode materials for Li-ion batteries

As a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries, ZnO has been intensively studied owing to its high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, low electronic conductivity restricted the application of ZnO in Li-ion batteries. It has been well recognized that morphology-controlled ZnO nanostructures can serve as high-performance anode materials. Here carbon-decorated flower-like ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal reactions. The carbon decoration on the flower-like ZnO surface not only suppresses the growth of ZnO crystals but also increases the electronic conductivity of ZnO. The results indicate that the nanocarbon-decorated flower-like ZnO materials can be employed as high-performance anode materials for advanced Li storage.