Fabrication of Cu3V2O7(OH)2•2H2O nanoplates constructed flowers using Cu2O cube as sacrificial template for good lithium storage

Constructing Two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures into 3D architecture towards specific applications is desirable but challenging. In this work, we construct 2D Cu3V2O7(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O nanoplates into 3D nanoflowers via Cu2O sacrificial template method. The employed Cu2O nanocubes not only serve as template but also supply the Cu resource during the synthesis strategy. The morphology and structure of Cu3V2O7(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O are characterized by XRD, SEM, and TEM techniques. The Cu3V2O7(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O nanoflowers show combined structural benefits for electrochemical performance, such as high surface area and short migration path for lithium storage, as well as tunnels for electrolyte filtration. Therefore, high capacity, stable cyclability, and especially high initial coulombic efficiency of 91.3% are obtained from Cu3V2O7(OH)(2)center dot 2H(2)O nanoflowers, making it a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.