Nonstoichiometric Cu(0.6)Ni(0.4)Co(2)O(4) Nanowires as an Anode Material for High Performance Lithium Storage

Transition metal oxide is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Generally, the electrochemical property of transition metal oxides can be improved by optimizing their element components and controlling their nano-architecture. Herein, we designed nonstoichiometric Cu(0.6)Ni(0.4)Co(2)O(4) nanowires for high performance lithium-ion storage. It is found that the specific capacity of Cu(0.6)Ni(0.4)Co(2)O(4) nanowires remain 880 mAh g(−1) after 50 cycles, exhibiting much better electrochemical performance than CuCo(2)O(4) and NiCo(2)O(4). After experiencing a large current charge and discharge state, the discharge capacity of Cu(0.6)Ni(0.4)Co(2)O(4) nanowires recovers to 780 mAh g(−1) at 50 mA g(−1), which is ca. 88% of the initial capacity. The high electrochemical performance of Cu(0.6)Ni(0.4)Co(2)O(4) nanowires is related to their better electronic conductivity and synergistic effect of metals. This work may provide a new strategy for the design of multicomponent transition metal oxides as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.