Nanostructured ZnO materials have been studied extensively because of their functional properties. This paper presents a composite material of zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) and porous carbon using a one-step carbonization process. The direct carbonization of a metal–organic complex generates mesostructured porous carbon with a homogeneous distribution of ZnO QDs. The structural and morphological properties are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The resulting ZnO QDs@porous carbon composite delivers a high specific capacity of 990 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, 357 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1, and high reversibility when evaluated as an anode for lithium ion batteries.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Materials
        2.2 Preparation of ZnO QDs@porous carbon
        2.3 Characterization
        2.4 Electrochemical analysis
    3 Results and discussion
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Yun Ji Oh(Advanced Nanohybrids Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University)
• Min Chang Shin(Advanced Nanohybrids Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University)
• Jae Ho Kim(Advanced Nanohybrids Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University)
• Seung Jae Yang(Advanced Nanohybrids Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University)