Design of multishell microsphere of transition metal oxides/carbon composites for lithium ion battery.

• A universal strategy for multi-shelled hollow microsphere of transition metal oxides. • Homogeneous and monodispersed Co/Ni-MOF was designed. • The Co 3 O 4 @C electrode show high capacity and excellent cycling performance for LIBs. • The proposed synthesis strategy demonstrated great potentials in materials science. Although the synthesis of transition metal oxide hollow structure is well established, it is still very difficult to control the size distribution, morphological uniformity, cavity volume, shell clarity and functional groups of products. Herein, the strategy of "oxidation-sedimentation-recrystallization-formation" was proposed to synthesis of well-defined multi-shelled hollow microsphere by thermal oxidation of the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) general precursors. The spherical Ni-MOF and Co-MOF are first synthesized and subsequently transformed into corresponding multi-shelled metal oxide and carbon composites. These nitrogen-doped multi-shelled Co 3 O 4 @carbon hollow microspheres were adopted as anode for lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating remarkable electrochemical properties. Impressively, an ultra-high reversible capacity of 1701 mAh g−1 was retained at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 60 cycles. Even at a large current density of 5000 mA g−1, 427 mAh g−1 was retained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]