Co₃O₄ microtubules derived from a biotemplated method for improved lithium storage performance

A simple and effective biotemplated method is applied to fabricate porous microtubular cobalt oxide by infiltration of cotton fiber with a cobalt nitrate solution, followed by annealing at 500 °C in air. The as-obtained Co₃O₄ have been characterized by: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N₂ adsorption and desorption measurements, and thermal analysis (TG). According to these results, the as-prepared Co₃O₄ display a perfect tubular morphology and mesoporous features. The electrochemical performance of the as-obtained sample was studied for use as a lithium-ion battery anode material by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ESI) measurements. Compared to bulk Co₃O₄ and previously reported nanostructured Co₃O₄ electrodes, mesoporous microtubular Co₃O₄ show an improved lithium storage properties, which can be attributed to their unique morphology, large specific surface area and mesoporous feature.