A paradigm for the synthetic manipulation of composition and crystallite size of
bimetallic composites via a low-temperature, aqueous co-precipitation technique
employing non-stoichiometric ratios of starting materials, AgNO3 and
Fe(NO3)3, is introduced. In-situ formation of
composites containing crystalline silver ferrite, AgFeO2, and
nanocrystalline maghemite, γ-Fe2O3 is
demonstrated and established by Raman spectroscopic and X-ray absorption
analyses. As a cathode, the lowest silver content composites exhibited
profoundly improved electrochemical performance, with reversible capacities
approximately 100% higher relative to stoichiometric AgFeO2, and
demonstrate the lowest capacity fade.