Microalgae-Templated Spray Drying for Hierarchical and Porous Fe(3)O(4)/C Composite Microspheres as Li-ion Battery Anode Materials

A method of microalgae-templated spray drying to develop hierarchical porous Fe(3)O(4)/C composite microspheres as anode materials for Li-ion batteries was developed. During the spray-drying process, individual microalgae serve as building blocks of raspberry-like hollow microspheres via self-assembly. In the present study, microalgae-derived carbon matrices, naturally doped heteroatoms, and hierarchical porous structural features synergistically contributed to the high electrochemical performance of the Fe(3)O(4)/C composite microspheres, enabling a discharge capacity of 1375 mA·h·g(−1) after 700 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g. Notably, the microalgal frameworks of the Fe(3)O(4)/C composite microspheres were maintained over the course of charge/discharge cycling, thus demonstrating the structural stability of the composite microspheres against pulverization. In contrast, the sample fabricated without microalgal templating showed significant capacity drops (up to ~40% of initial capacity) during the early cycles. Clearly, templating of microalgae endows anode materials with superior cycling stability.