Investigation on In Situ Carbon-Coated ZnFe₂O₄ as Advanced Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

ZnFe₂O₄ as an anode that is believed to attractive. Due to its large theoretical capacity, this electrode is ideal for Lithium-ion batteries. However, the performance of ZnFe₂O₄ while charging and discharging is limited by its volume growth. In the present study, carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ is synthesized by the sol–gel method. Carbon is coated on the spherical surface of ZnFe₂O₄ by in situ coating. In situ carbon coating alleviates volume expansion during electrochemical performance and Lithium-ion mobility is accelerated, and electron transit is accelerated; thus, carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ show good electrochemical performance. After 50 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A·g⁻¹, the battery had a discharge capacity of 1312 mAh·g⁻¹ and a capacity of roughly 1220 mAh·g⁻¹. The performance of carbon-coated ZnFe₂O₄ as an improved anode is electrochemically used for Li-ion energy storage applications.