Preparation of a Mulberry-like MnO Specimen and Its Lithium Property

A mulberry-like MnO specimen was prepared using a MnCO3 sample under nitrogen (N2) protection at 700 °C (denoted as MnO-700). When the specimen was used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as anode material, the reversible capacity of 702 mAh g−1 was displayed after 120 cycles at a current density 200 mA g−1, and 365 mAh g−1 of discharge capacity was obtained at 1000 mA g−1 at the 200th cycle. Meanwhile, the sample also exhibited an excellent rate capacity (224 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1). The MnO-700 sample displayed a favorable electrochemical performance that may be ascribed to the unique mulberry-like structure of the MnO microparticles, which can provide enough space to satisfy the volume change of the MnO microparticles during lithium cycling, and also lead to more transfer paths for Li+ insertion/extraction during charge/discharge processes.