Author: Huan Liu, Xinlu Wang, Jinxian Wang, Hang Xu, Wensheng Yu, Xiangting Dong, Hongbo Zhang, Limin Wang
Institute: Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Nanotechnology of Jilin Provincial Universities, Department of Chemistry and Environment, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resources Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
In recent years, a considerable amount of data has been accumulated on the electrochemical performance of nanoporous composites, especially those based on Fe3O4, CuO, and Cu. These materials, synthesized by dealumination of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals, exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance, making them promising for applications in catalysis and energy storage.
Quasicrystals with unique physicochemical properties are promising functional materials. In this study, Al65Cu23Fe alloy tapes were prepared using an arc melting method followed by an argon drawing process. A unique Fe3O4/CuO/Cu structure was obtained by a simple one-step chemical purification method in 2 M NaOH solution at room temperature with controlled refining time. Various techniques including XRD and SEM were used to study the crystal structure. The composite combines the high capacity of Fe3O4/CuO and excellent conductivity of Cu, which provides high reversible capacity and good cyclability. Cyclic voltammetry showed that a special capacity of 738.4 mAh/g could be achieved after 550 cycles at a current density of 200 mA/g. Thus, the Fe3O4/CuO/Cu composites have excellent electrochemical stability.
The dealumination process creates a porous structure that provides increased surface area and active sites for electrochemical reactions. Nanoporous Fe3O4/CuO/Cu composites have unique properties, including high conductivity and stability, which helps improve the kinetics of electrochemical processes.
Since the discovery of the iconoid phase by Daniel Shechtman, who won the Nobel Prize in 2011, quasicrystals have received increasing attention. Due to their long-range ordered state, quasicrystals have many unique properties, including light absorption and thermal insulation. Despite the advances, only a few have reached the commercial level, making it necessary to further explore their practical applications. Using the dealumination method to create 3D porous nanostructures opens up new possibilities for the application of quasicrystals in catalysts and other fields. However, the application of metal oxide composites in electrochemical systems still requires more development. Transition metal oxides such as Fe3O4 and CuO may be promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity.
The results of the studies show that such composites exhibit a high level of activity in oxidation reactions, also providing excellent indicators in charge-discharge cycles. The study of the possibilities of further application of these materials in electrochemical systems is a relevant direction for future experiments.