Hollow Cu2O nanospheres with surface {111} and {110} active facets and intraluminal Cu2O nanoparticles as anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Anode materials play a critical role in enhancement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) toward high energy density. In this work, the hollow Cu2O nanospheres with surface {111} and {110} active facets and intraluminal Cu2O nanoparticles are synthesized using a simple and low-cost one-step method, and used as the anode materials for LIBs to achieve high performance. Some advanced spectroscopic characterization and electrochemical methods are employed for fundamentally understanding the relationship between structure/morphology/composition and electrochemical performance. Using these materials, the as-fabricated anodes can deliver an excellent specific capacity of 914.4 Ah.kg−1 at a current density of 1 C (375 A.kg−1) after 390 cycles, and even at a large current density of 10 C, the capacity retention is still as high as 356.7 Ah.kg−1. The enhancement in battery performance is attributed to the novel structure of Cu2O-HNs anode materials with high surface area, high surface active {111} and {110} facets and the intraluminal Cu2O nanoparticles. The outstanding electrochemical performance achieved in this work demonstrates a high potential of Cu2O-HNs to be applied as high-energy anode materials for practical lithium-ion batteries. •Pure Cu2O anode material with a novelty structure was synthesized.•Li-storage performance of Cu2O can be enhanced by the synergistic effects.•The high capacity of 914.4 Ah.kg−1 is delivered at 375 A.kg−1 after 390 cycles.