Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of mesoporous nanocrystalline CoFe₂O₄ as a negative electrode material for lithium battery applications

Mesoporous nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) as a negative electrode material for lithium battery was prepared by using simple urea assisted modified citrate combustion process. Formation of pure crystalline phase and nanocrystallite size were respectively identified and calculated from the analysis of the observed X-ray diffractometer pattern of the CoFe₂O₄ sample. The formation of uniform mesoporous nanocrystalline architecture was confirmed from the observed FE-SEM images of the CoFe₂O₄ sample. Specific surface area obtained from BET analysis of the sample is found to be 38.369 m² g⁻¹. The delivered discharge capacity of the lithium ion battery, fabricated using prepared mesoporous nanocrystalline CoFe₂O₄, is found to be 484 mAh g⁻¹ after 30 cycles at 0.1 C rate. The observed high discharge capacity may be due to the unique mesoporous nanocrystalline structure of the CoFe₂O₄ sample. Hence, the electrochemical results reveal that the mesoporous nanocrystalline CoFe₂O₄ could be a promising high capacity, negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries.