Hemp straw carbon and Ni/NiO embedded structure composites as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

•The compound based on hemp straw carbon hydrothermal composite Ni/NiO nano-spherical particles is prepared.•The material of Ni/NiO/HHS-600 has displayed excellent electrochemical properties.•The capacity of Ni/NiO/HHS-600 can be maintained at 1200 mA h g−1 after 650 cycles at 2 C. The composite material composed of hemp straw carbon hydrothermal composite Ni/NiO nano spherical particles is designated as the anode material of lithium-ion battery. The Ni/NiO/HHS-600 material has displayed the best electrochemical properties, of which the first charge and discharge capacity is 2887.41 mA h g−1 and 1258 mA h g−1 respectively. The capacity can be maintained at 1200 mA h g−1 after 650 cycles at 2 C. It provides a direction for the lithium-ion battery to have excellent performance at high ratio. [Display omitted] Biomass derived carbon and its composites are widely used in lithium-ion batteries because of their simple process operation, environmental protection, low price and excellent performance. In this work, the composite of Ni/NiO nano spherical particles and hemp straw derived carbon showed a reversible lithium storage capacity of 1200 mA h g−1 after 650 cycles at a current density of 2 C (1 C = 718 mA g−1). Through transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope analysis, the results showed that Ni/NiO nano spherical particles were embedded on the surface of hemp straw carbon block. The excellent properties of the composite are attributed to the fact that biomass carbon can improve the overall conductivity and alleviate the structural strain caused by the change of Ni/NiO volume during charge and discharge. This work provides a new choice for biomass derived carbon loaded transition metals to prepare anode materials for lithium ion batteries.