Graphene-encapsulated iron microspheres on the graphene nanosheets.

Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) loading graphene-encapsulated iron microspheres (GEIMs) were fabricated by heat treatment of graphene oxide nanosheets (GONs) with ferric trichloride (FeCl(3)). The special pentagon-hexagonal graphene shells have been produced by precipitation of carbon from metal carbide solutions, thanks to the high reactivity of GONs and ferric nanoparticles dispersing homogeneously between graphene layers. The morphology, structure and elemental composition of GEIMs were investigated by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and electron energy disperse spectroscope, respectively. The formation mechanism of GEIMs was proposed. Hollow graphene microspheres (HGMs) on the GNSs were obtained with the removal of ferric species in GEIMs. When used as the anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the almost graphitic HGMs exhibit stable voltage platform at ca. 0.2 V, excellent cycle capability and higher reversible capacity of about 440 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles and possess great potential application in lithium-ion batteries.