Mesoporous Iron Trifluoride Microspheres as Cathode Materials for Li-ion Batteries

•Mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres have been first synthesized by a facile solution method.•The properties comparison of FeF3(H2O)0.33 with different morphologies and β-FeF3·3H2O has been investigated.•The mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres still deliver a discharge capacity as large as 175.1mAhg−1 at a high current density of 475mAg−1.•The mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres exhibit excellent cycle stability. Mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres, hexagonal columns, and β-FeF3·3H2O square microrods have been prepared via facile solution methods using polyethylene glycol, oleic acid, and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride as a surfactant, respectively. The as-prepared mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres exhibits an enhanced lithium storage capacity and excellent cycling stability (159.2mAhg−1 at 142mAg−1 after 100 cycles). Even at a high current density of 474mAg−1, mesoporous FeF3(H2O)0.33 microspheres still deliver a discharge capacity as large as 95.9mAhg−1 after 100 cycles. This remarkable electrochemical performance can be attributed to the high specific surface area and mesoporous micro-spherical structure, which effectively increase the contact area between the active materials and the electrolyte, reducing the Li-ion diffusion pathway and buffering the volume change during cycling.