Enhanced electrochemical performance of FeSe2@rGO composites as anode materials for Lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The high theoretical capacity of transition metal-based compounds makes them promising candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes. Among them, iron selenide (FeSe2) has attracted considerable interest because of its excellent electrical conductivity and superior lithium storage capacity. However, pristine FeSe2 suffers from rapid capacity fading and structural instability during repeated cycling. Thus, this study used a facile solvothermal method to synthesize a FeSe2@rGO composite with enhanced structural integrity and electrical conductivity. By incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO), the composite demonstrated improved charge transfer kinetics and mechanical robustness. Morphological and structural characterizations were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses (XPS), which confirmed the successful formation of the composite and its uniform distribution. Electrochemical properties were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge, long-term cycling, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The optimized FeSe2@rGO electrode delivered a high reversible capacity of 971.95 mAhg-1 at 500 mAg-1 after 350 cycles. The underlying charge storage mechanism was investigated using scan rate-dependent CV, which revealed a dominant capacitive-controlled contribution at higher scan rates. The study findings indicate that the FeSe2@rGO composite can serve as a high-performance anode material with excellent cycling stability and rate capability, providing a viable strategy for the development of advanced LIBs.