Flute‐like Fe2O3 Nanorods with Modulating Porosity for High Performance Anode Materials in Lithium Ion Batteries.

Flute‐like Fe2O3 nanorods with tunable porosity are obtained by facile hydrothermal process and subsequent calcination. The morphology, porosity and structural stability of Fe2O3 nanorods are effectively controlled by a two‐step strategy at nano/micrometer scale. The introduction of F ions promotes the formation of nanorod‐like iron hydroxide precursors, which are annealed at 400, 500 and 600 °C to obtain Fe2O3. The pore size increases with the annealing temperature. When tested as anode material of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), the porous Fe2O3 nanorods obtained by annealing at 500 °C exhibit better cycling stability and rate capability than those obtained at 400 and 600 °C. Most impressively, it delivers a capacity of 707.4 and 687.7 mAh g−1 at 1 and 2 A g−1 after 200 cycles, respectively. Compared to the other two samples, the Fe2O3 nanorods with optimized pore distribution exhibit robust porous framework, which contributes to the structural and electrochemical stability of electrode. The porous framework can effectively alleviate the severe volume expansion/contraction and avoid pulverization of active materials, resulting in outstanding reversibility and rate capability. This work will benefit the design of novel materials for LIBs. Flute‐like Fe2O3 nanorods with tunable porosity were obtained by facile hydrothermal process and subsequent calcination. The electrochemical properties of three Fe2O3 nanorods was studied and compared to investigate the effect of porosity. The specific capacities of Fe2O3 obtained at 400, 500 and 600 °C were 434, 687.7 and 400 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1, respectively. The enhanced effect on lithium storage properties of Fe2O3 obtained at 500 °C was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]