Research Progress on the Construction of Iron-Based Oxide/Graphene Nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Iron-based oxide/graphene composites have emerged as high-capacity anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, achieving significant performance breakthroughs through multi-scale structural design and surface/interface engineering. The evolution of core-shell structures from single-layer coatings to gradient modulus coatings has enabled improved mechanical integrity. By incorporating reserved expansion cavities and optimizing interface bonding, the cycling lifespan has been extended to over 1,000 cycles, with a capacity retention rate exceeding 80%. A three-dimensional porous network, fabricated via the ice-template method, facilitates the formation of a hierarchical pore structure that integrates mechanical reinforcement with functional optimization, resulting in a conductive framework characterized by an ultra-high specific surface area and superior mechanical stability. This architecture enhances ion and electron transport efficiency. Heterogeneous interface engineering, achieved through covalent bond construction and atomic-level modulation, optimizes the electronic transport pathways, significantly reducing interface resistance and overcoming the cycle stability bottleneck. Preparation techniques have advanced from conventional chemical synthesis to microfluidic-directed assembly and green large-scale processing, accelerating the transition from laboratory research to industrial application. Performance optimization mechanisms reveal that graphene-based conductive networks and doping strategies markedly enhance capacity and reaction kinetics, while dense interfacial films and nanostructuring collectively mitigate volume expansion and side reactions. Despite these advancements, key challenges remain, including achieving uniformity in material synthesis, ensuring low-temperature adaptability in full-cell configurations, and developing cost-effective recycling strategies. Future progress will require the integration of AI-driven material design, atomic-precision interface engineering, and cross-disciplinary innovations to simultaneously enhance energy density, cycling stability, and sustainability, thereby providing fundamental solutions for next-generation energy storage systems.