Flower-like WO3/CoWO4/Co nanostructures as high performance anode for lithium ion batteries

The uniformly flower-like WO3/CoWO4/Co nanostructures were synthesized via a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction with solid heteropolyacid of W and Co as precursors and followed by heating process and calcination under the air condition. The as-prepared WO3/CoWO4/Co composite showed a high discharge capacity of 1104 mAhg−1 after 40 cycles at 100 mAg−1, and delivered excellent rate performance of 1074, 685, 509, 335 mAhg−1 at 200,400,800,1600 mAg−1, respectively. The excellent electrochemical performance of WO3/CoWO4/Co nanostructures is attributed to the uniform dispersion of discrete nanoparticles, and it also can be highly optimized by the freestanding combination of Co-doped tungsten trioxide and cobalt tungstate, which helps to provide high specific capacity, high rate cycling and stable life performance. •Flower-like compound were synthesized by hydrothermal method and rapid calcination.•Co-doping increased lattice parameters of WO3 for Li+ insertion and extraction.•Formation of new phase CoWO4 also has excellent stability properties.•WO3/CoWO4/Co as anode material has a high reversible discharge capacity.•WO3/CoWO4/Co anode shows excellent rate performance at different current densities.