High Rate Performance of a Mn3O4/C Anode Material Prepared By One-Step Pyro-Synthesis for Lithium-Ion Batteries

In response to the ever-increasing global demand for electronic devices, Lithium-ion batteries have taken an important place in meeting this demand since they provide high voltage, high energy density, and are light weight. Nanostructured binary metal oxides (BMOs) which exhibit high theoretical capacity as a result of a conversion reaction. Among the BMOs, the manganese-based oxide hausmannite (Mn3O4) has attracted much attention due to it being low –cost and environmentally benign. A nanostructured Mn3O4/C electrode was prepared by a one-step polyol-assisted pyro-synthesis without any post-heat treatments. The as-prepared Mn3O4/C revealed nanostructured morphology comprised of secondary aggregates formed from carbon-coated primary particles of average diameters ranging between 20 and 40 nm, as evidenced from the electron microscopy studies. The N2 adsorption studies reveal a hierarchical porous feature in the nanostructured electrode. The nanostructured morphology appears to be related to the present rapid combustion strategy. The nanostructured porous Mn3O4/C electrode demonstrated impressive electrode properties with reversible capacities of 666 mAh/g at a current density of 33 mA/g, good capacity retentions (1141 mAh/g with 100% Coulombic efficiencies at the 100th cycle), and rate capabilities (307 and 202 mAh/g at 528 and 1056 mA/g, respectively) when tested as an anode for lithium-ion battery applications.