Preparation of multifunctional structural P-CF@ZnCo2O4 composites used as structural anode materials

PAN-based carbon fibers have been studied in multifunctional structural composites with broad application prospects. One of the critical problems in their applications is how to improve their energy storage capacity while maintaining their tensile strength. In this paper, we prepared a novel P-CF@ZnCo2O4 composite (PAN-based carbon fiber/ZnCo2O4) by coating ZnCo2O4 thin films tightly onto the surface of carbon fibers. Due to the combined advantages of ZnCo2O4 with high theoretical capacity and P-CF with strong tensile strength, the prepared P-CF@ZnCo2O4 composite is expected to have outstanding comprehensive performance. As a result, a high reversible capacity of 787.2 mAh.g(-1) is maintained after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) with a huge increase of almost 5.15 times as high as for the pure carbon fibers of 153 mAh.g(-1). Besides, even at a density of 2000 mA g(-1), the discharge capacity can still reach 289.5 mAh.g(-1), showing excellent rate performance. Such superior comprehensive electrochemical characteristics can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of carbon fibers and ZnCo2O4. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.