Porous Nano-Structured GeO2 for High Performance Lithium Storage

GeO2 is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries because of their high specific capacity, low operating voltage and fast Li+ diffusion. However, the GeO2-based anodes possess rapid fading in capacity and poor cycling stability. Attaining the potential specifications in lithium ion batteries remains a big challenge. In this work, porous nano-structured GeO2 has been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal deposition and low temperature annealing method. The sample exhibits high specific capacity and excellent rate capacity. Porous nano-structured GeO2 showed a higher storage capacity of 1000 mAhg(-1) after 10 cycles at a current of 0.1 Ag-1 and a flat capacity plot remained above 500 mAhg(-1) even after 100 cycles at 1 Ag-1. The good electrochemical performance is attributed to the superior porous nano-structure of GeO2.