CHIH-JUNG CHENRU-SHI LIU2018-09-102018-09-102013http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000325950600076&KeyUID=WOS:000325950600076http://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/377778Rising interest in lightweight, thin, and flexible energy storage devices has led to numerous studies that aim to fulfill the special needs of next-generation, high-performance flexible electronics. In this study, flower-like ZnCo2O4 nanowires are fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method followed by heat treatment in air at 400 °C. The structures and morphologies of as-prepared ZnCo2O4 nanowires are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The data indicate that the as-synthesized flower-like ZnCo2O4 nanowires are approximately 2.5 μm in length and range from 50 nm to 150 nm in diameter. The as-prepared flower-like ZnCo2O4 nanowire products are evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion battery application. The special structural features of ZnCo2O4 nanowires, including high coating uniformity, high coating density, and porous architecture, exert a significant effect on the electrochemical performance of the nanowires. The discharge capacity of ZnCo2O4 flower-like nanowires can reach first discharge capacity at 1430 mA h g-1 to ∼900 mA h g-1 after 50 discharge-charge cycles at a current density of 200 mA g-1, indicating its potential applications for next-generation, high-performance flexible electronics. High battery performance is mainly attributed to the dense and porous nanowire structures composed of interconnected ZnCo 2O4 nanoparticles, which provide good electrolyte diffusion and large electrode-electrolyte contact area while reducing volume change during the charge-discharge process. The fabricated electrode can be used to light up commercial light emitting diodes. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.[SDGs]SDG7Charge-discharge process; Discharge capacities; Discharge-charge cycle; Electrochemical performance; First discharge capacities; High-performance anode materials; Hydrothermal methods; Porous architectures; Anodes; Coatings; Electrolytes; Flexible electronics; Light emitting diodes; Lithium batteries; Lithium compounds; Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; X ray diffraction; Nanowiresjournal article10.1039/c3ra42625dWOS:000325950600076