Field-Assisted Formation of NHCoF Mesocrystals toward Hierarchical CoO Cuboids as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Porous NHCoF mesocrystalline cuboids with highly exposed {100} facets are grown by in situ reaction of products produced by high field anodization of cobalt metal foil, via a nonclassical crystallization process involving oriented particle aggregation. 3D nano-micro hierarchical CoO cuboids are obtained by thermal annealing of NHCoF mesocrystals. The microstructure and morphology of products are characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The combination of small nanoparticle subunits, micrometer-sized overall particles, and porous structure provides the obtained hierarchical CoO cuboids with large electrolyte-electrode contact areas, channels for large lithium ion flux, pore accessibility, and structural stability, leading to excellent rate and cyclic performance as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes.