LAUSR

Abstract The porous NiFe2O4/Si microspheres (NFO/Si) are prepared by nano silicon embedment into NFO using liquid nitrogen quenching and freeze-drying methods. Compared with pure nano silicon or NFO as lithium-ion battery anode, the porous NFO/Si microspheres deliver a promising specific capacity up to 906 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at the current density of 0.1 A g−1. The composite electrode materials also demonstrate excellent rate performance at high current density. The improved electrochemical properties are due to the synergistic effect of high capacity silicon embedment in porous NFO/Si microspheres, which improves the Li+ intercalation–deintercalation process. The porous NFO/Si microspheres exhibits the excellent lithium-ion storage as anode materials.