High rate capabilities induced by multi-phasic nanodomains in iron-substituted calcium cobaltite electrodes

Two-dimensional (2-D) nanoplates of iron-substituted calcium cobaltite (Ca₃Co₃FeO₉) are synthesized through a simple citrate-gel method. The lithium electroactivity of Ca₃Co ₃FeO₉ demonstrates that this is an applicable active anode material. In this study, we focus on the reversible conversion process and internally multi-phasic, nanostructured character occurring in Ca ₃Co₃FeO₉ nanoplates. Moreover, we demonstrate that in-situ formation of active/inactive nanocomposite improves the conversion reaction kinetics by accommodating the large volume changes during lithium uptake and removal, thereby achieving outstanding rate capabilities.