▎ 摘　　要

The graphenothermal reduction mechanism of Fe2O3 by graphene oxide (GO) is elucidated through careful experimental analysis. The degree of oxidation (DO) of GO plays a key role in controlling the reduction of Fe2O3 by GO. GO with low DO follows a conventional three-stage reaction path, i.e., '2G0 + Fe2O3 -> EG/Fe3O4 (Stage I) -> EG/FeO (Stage II) -> EG/Fe (Stage III)' (where EG is exfoliated reduced graphene oxide), at temperatures 650 and 750 C to reduce Fe2O3, whereas the GO with higher DO transforms rapidly and ceases the reduction at Stage I, i.e., with the formation of EG/Fe3O4 at 650 degrees C. It is also found that slow thermal treatment of GO continues the reduction to Stage II and further to Stage III depending on time of heating and temperature. EG/Fe3O4 (synthesized at 550 degrees C, 5 h) by using GO with low DO showed superior cycling performance as an anode of Li -ion battery than its counterpart prepared (at 650 C, 5 h) from GO with high DO owing to good contacts between EG and Fe3O4. EG/Fe3O4 (synthesized at 550 degrees C, 5 h) exhibited reversible capacity as high as 860 mAh/ g which is greater than the specific capacity of EG/Fe3O4 synthesized (at 650 degrees C, 5 h) by 150 mAh/g. (synthesized at 550 degrees C, 5 h) outperformed its counterpart (i.e., EG/Fe3O4 synthesized at 650 degrees C, S h) by exhibiting excellent cycling stability and rate capability at current rates ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 degrees C. Overall, EG/Fe3O4