Rusted iron wire waste into high performance anode (α-Fe₂O₃) for Li-ion batteries: An efficient waste management approach

Superior Li-storage properties are reported for interconnected α-Fe₂O₃ derived from iron based wires collected from waste i.e. building supplies or scrap. An interconnected morphology is acquired without the addition of any surfactant or shape controlling agent. We also explore the possibility of employing such a material as a potential low cost conversion type anode for the fabrication of Li-ion cells with a LiMn₂O₄ cathode. Remarkably, α-Fe₂O₃ displayed a capacity of ∼1119 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 0.05 A g^-1 in a half-cell configuration. Good cyclability is also noted, for example α-Fe₂O₃ delivered ∼800 mA h g^-1 after 215 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g^-1. The irreversible capacity loss of the α-Fe₂O₃ anode has been effectively circumvented by an electrochemical pre-lithiation process and the anode is eventually paired with the eco-friendly cathode, LiMn₂O₄. The full-cell, LiMn₂O₄/α-Fe₂O₃ delivered the initial reversible capacity of ∼737 mA h g^-1 with ∼78% retention after 40 cycles. This efficient waste management system with a gram scale synthesis procedure for α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles indeed paved the way for developing high performance Li-ion power packs for high energy requirements.