Construction of Flower-Like NiO@ASPNTs/C Nanocomposites with Enhanced Lithium Storage Performance as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A flower-like NiO@ASPNTs/C nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a solvothermal process followed by annealing, and its electrochemical performance as a lithium-ion battery anode was systematically investigated. Morphological and structural characterizations reveal that the composite consisted of uniformly dispersed NiO nanoparticles anchored onto aminated polymer nanotubes (ASPNTs/C), forming a unique flower-like porous architecture. This architecture not only increased the specific surface area and interfacial active sites but also effectively buffered the volume variation of NiO during lithiation/delithiation. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that NiO@ASPNTs/C delivered initial charge/discharge capacities of 2397.4/1676.3 mAh g–1 at 0.1 A g–1 with a Coulombic efficiency of 69.9%, and retained a stable capacity of 1200.7 mAh g–1 after 150 cycles. Moreover, the composite exhibited outstanding rate capability and long-term cycling stability, maintaining a reversible capacity of 351.7 mAh g–1 even after 2000 cycles at 5.0 A g–1. Mechanistic analysis revealed that amination facilitated Ni2+ adsorption and uniform NiO nucleation, while the flower-like structure provided abundant electrolyte penetration channels and continuous electron/ion transport networks. The synergistic effect of these features endows NiO@ASPNTs/C with superior lithium-storage properties. This work offers a new strategy for the rational design and application of transition metal oxide/carbon-based anode materials.