Simple chemical reduction route for the synthesis of Cu‐modified Co 3 O 4 nanosheet with enhanced performance as anode material in lithium‐ion batteries

Cu‐modified Co 3 O 4 nanosheets were designed and fabricated via a facile two‐step process by a simple microwave‐assisted reaction to synthesise Co 3 O 4 sheets, followed by chemically reducing copper ion on Co 3 O 4 sheets. The structures and morphologies of the obtained sheet‐like Cu‐modified Co 3 O 4 nanomaterials were characterised by X‐ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. As the anode materials for the lithium‐ion battery applications, the Cu‐modified Co 3 O 4 nanosheet electrode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1208 mAh g −1 and its initial coulombic efficiency was 82.24%, much higher than 74.8% for Co 3 O 4 sheets. More importantly, a reversible capacity of ca. 600 mAh g –1 could be reached at a higher current density of 890 mA g −1 . The enhanced electrochemical performance may be attributed the incorporated Cu as well as the porous structure and the sheet‐like morphology of the Co 3 O 4 active materials.