A small molecule organic compound applied as an advanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

We choose copper(II) ions to salinize maleic acid, then form a layered copper maleate hydrate and apply this as an anode material for LIBs for the first time. The as-prepared material exhibits admirable electrochemical performance (404.6 mA h g -1 at 0.2 A g -1 ). A new hypothesis is developed for a better understanding of the unusual in situ XRD results and reaction mechanism.