Hollow porous CuO/C nanorods as a high-performance anode for lithium ion batteries

Cu-MOF with a hollow morphology was successfully synthesized by a novel and simple coordination transformation reaction of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ with benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) under ultrasound irradiation for the first time. Then, novel hollow porous CuO/C nanorods were prepared by calcining this Cu-MOF at low temperature (250 °C) in air. The morphology and electrochemical properties of the samples were markedly affected by the calcination temperature. As anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the hollow porous nanorod structure and the presence of carbon greatly enhanced the electrochemical performance of the CuO/C nanocomposite. The reversible specific capacity of CuO/C was 505 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 200 cycles, which is much higher than that of the CuO samples calcined at 300 °C and 350 °C (250.1 mA h g−1 and 192.3 mA h g−1, respectively) in air. The CuO/C nanocomposite also exhibited a more favorable rate capability than CuO. The superior electrochemical performance makes this nanocomposite a promising anode material for LIBs. •The Cu-MOF is synthesized by coordination transformation reaction under ultrasound.•The morphologies of the samples are affected by different calcining temperatures.•CuO/C nanorods exhibit great rate capability and cycling stability as LIB anode.