Fe₃O₄-graphene nanocomposites with improved lithium storage and magnetism properties

In this paper, we proposed a facile one-step strategy to prepare graphene-Fe₃O₄ (GN-Fe₃O₄) nanocomposites under hydrothermal conditions, where the reduction process of graphite oxide (GO) sheets into GN was accompanied by the generation of Fe ₃O₄ nanoparticles. The reduction extent of GO by this process could be comparable to that by conventional methods. A transmission electron microscopy image has shown that the as-formed Fe₃O ₄ nanoparticles with a diameter as small as 7 nm were densely and uniformly deposited on GN sheets, and, as a result, the aggregating of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was effectively prevented. The GN-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites exhibit improved cycling stability and rate performances as a potential anode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries. In addition, the GN-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior, making them promising candidates for practical applications in the fields of bionanotechnology/ controlled targeted drug delivery.