Flower-like ZnCo₂O₄ nanowires: Toward a high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

Rising interest in lightweight, thin, and flexible energy storage devices has led to numerous studies that aim to fulfill the special needs of next-generation, high-performance flexible electronics. In this study, flower-like ZnCo₂O₄ nanowires are fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method followed by heat treatment in air at 400 °C. The structures and morphologies of as-prepared ZnCo₂O₄ nanowires are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The data indicate that the as-synthesized flower-like ZnCo₂O₄ nanowires are approximately 2.5 μm in length and range from 50 nm to 150 nm in diameter. The as-prepared flower-like ZnCo₂O₄ nanowire products are evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion battery application. The special structural features of ZnCo₂O₄ nanowires, including high coating uniformity, high coating density, and porous architecture, exert a significant effect on the electrochemical performance of the nanowires. The discharge capacity of ZnCo₂O₄ flower-like nanowires can reach first discharge capacity at 1430 mA h g^-1 to ∼900 mA h g^-1 after 50 discharge-charge cycles at a current density of 200 mA g^-1, indicating its potential applications for next-generation, high-performance flexible electronics. High battery performance is mainly attributed to the dense and porous nanowire structures composed of interconnected ZnCo ₂O₄ nanoparticles, which provide good electrolyte diffusion and large electrode-electrolyte contact area while reducing volume change during the charge-discharge process. The fabricated electrode can be used to light up commercial light emitting diodes.