Boosting the electrochemical performance of ternary metal oxide anode in lithium-ion batteries via biomass-derived carbon nanodot modification

Transition metal oxides deliver high capacity but demonstrate a short cycle life when they are utilized as the anode active material in lithium ion batteries. This study offers an innovative solution to this problem by designing new composite materials in which, the modification of ternary transition metal oxide by carbon nanodots is utilized. Carbon nanodots isolated from Phoenix Dactylifera L. seeds are used by the authors for the first time to process hydrothermally produced zinc nickel ferrite powders. Subsequently, the combination is treated in a rotating evaporator to provide a uniform mix. Then, the finished product is heated to 600 °C in air. Once these powders (ternary metal oxide from hydrothermal (Sample 1) and C-dot modified ternary metal oxide (Sample 2)) are utilized as anode active materials, Sample 2 performs 1224.74 mAh g⁻¹ at the 200th cycles upon the application of 0.1 mA g⁻¹ current load in cycling. Sample 2 tested under various current loads ranging from 0.1 to 2 A g⁻¹ it delivers 1229.08 mAh g⁻¹ at the 270th cycle. It is thus demonstrated that through careful material selection and process design it is possible to synthesize sustainable anode active materials that could withstand high current loads, with long cycle life. It is anticipated that the encouraging outcomes of this study would open up new vistas to design sustainable composite anode active materials.