Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticle-Decorated Bimodal Porous Carbon Nanocomposite Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

A new nanocomposite system based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles confined in three-dimensional (3D) dual-mode cubic porous carbon is developed using the nanocasting and wet-impregnation methods to assess its performance as an anode for lithium-ion batteries. Several Fe₃O₄ precursor concentrations are chosen to optimize and determine the best-performing nanocomposite composition. The cubic mesoporous carbon CMK-9 offers a better ability for the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to be accommodated inside the mesopores, efficiently buffering the variation in volume and equally enhancing electrode/electrolyte contact for rapid charge and mass transfer. Among the prepared nanocomposites, the Fe₃O₄(13)@C9 anode delivers an excellent reversible discharge capacity of 1222 mA h g⁻¹ after 150 cycles at a current rate of 100 mA g⁻¹, with a capacity retention of 96.8% compared to the fourth cycle (1262 mA h g⁻¹). At a higher current rate of 1000 mA g⁻¹, the nanocomposite anode offers a superior discharge capacity of 636 mA h g⁻¹ beyond 300 cycles. The present study reveals the use of a 3D mesoporous carbon material as a scaffold for anchoring Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with impressive potential as an anode for new-generation lithium-ion batteries.