Biomass‐Template Synthesis of Mesoporous α‐Fe ₂ O ₃ With Oxygen Vacancies for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract A biomass‐template strategy for the synthesis of high‐performance Li‐ion batteries anode is highly desirable. In this study, we propose a mesoporous α‐Fe 2 O 3 with oxygen vacancies derived from natural waste materials. This material was comprehensively characterized using TEM, BET, XPS, and in situ TEM. First‐principles calculations reveal that O‐defect in α‐Fe 2 O 3 enhances both Li adsorption energy and electrical conductivity. Benefiting from these unique features, the material exhibits outstanding long‐term stability (1062.6 mA h g −1 after 900 cycles at the current density of 1 A g −1 ) along with rate capability (578.4 mA h g −1 at the current density of 4 A g −1 ). This design and synthesis strategy for novel mesoporous α‐Fe 2 O 3 with oxygen vacancies as anode for LIBs is expected to be highly meaningful and effective.