Electrochemical performance of LiMnBO3/C composite synthesized by a combination of impregnation and precipitation followed by annealing

Monoclinic/hexagonal mixed-phase LiMnBO 3 /C composites have been prepared by the impregnation-precipitation method using ketjen black (KB) with 3D conductive network as both template and conductive framework. The synthesized products are characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen sorption and electrochemical tests. Morphology studied by SEM and nitrogen sorption shows that LiMnBO 3 particles are embedded in the nanostructured carbon networks. The LiMnBO 3 /C electrodes deliver an initial discharge specific capacity of 150, 137, 121 and 85 mAh g −1 at C/20, C/10, C/5 and C/2 rate, respectively. Although the capacity for the LiMnBO 3 /C electrode decreases considerably with increasing rate, stable cycling performance is obtained for all the four rates.