Hierarchical multi-metal-doped mesoporous NiO-silica nanoparticles towards a viable platform for Li-ion battery electrode application

Hierarchical nanostructures have received wide attention for their distinguished physical and chemical properties of the synthesized materials, mainly in future energy storage applications. In this study, Ni-based multi-metal doped silica mesoporous nanoflowers were prepared and characterized as a potential anode material for lithium ion batteries. A facile synthesis strategy is depicted here for Ni-based multi-metal doped silica mesoporous nanoflowers by using a CTAB surfactant and ammonia basic media in water-ethanol mixed solvent media. Ce, Al, Mn, and Co species have been chosen as other additive metals for doping in this mesostructure in order to find the enhanced electrochemical performance of the Ni-based silica. Systematic characterization of the material was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WA-XRD) analysis and N₂ sorption, which show 500–600 nm sized particles with fine-looking nanoflower morphology and surface area in the range of 211–405 m²g⁻¹. The initial charge/discharge capacity was found to be 1,313/178, 990/436, 1,122/234 and 1,585/689 mA h g⁻¹ for different Ni-silica, Ni-Ce-silica, Ni-Al-silica and Ni-Co-Mn-Al-silica electrodes, respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance for Ce doped Ni-silica compared to other mesoporous samples may be attributed to improved electrical conductivity as well as the hierarchical nanoflower-like structure.