Controllable synthesis of microano-structured MnCo2O4 with multiporous core-shell architectures as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

摘要

Large-scale controllable synthesis of various microano-structured MnCo2O4 is realized successfully via a facile hydrothermal method and subsequent thermal annealing. Due to the effect of the triethanolamine (TEA) as surfactant, the obtained MnCo2O4 exhibits various microano-structures (microellipses, microcubes, microspheres and twin microspheres), with unique core-shell architectures in which the microscale core is coated with multiporous shell composed of interconnected irregular nanoparticles. The formation mechanism of these unique structures is discussed in detail. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the as-prepared MnCo2O4 exhibit good electrochemical performance benefiting from the unique multiporous core-shell microano-structures, which can effectively facilitate the charge transfer and Li+ diffusion during the lithiation/delithiation process. Especially, the MnCo2O4 microspheres possess excellent lithium storage performance with high reversible capacity of 1033.3 mA h g(-1) at a high current density of 400 mA g(-1), considerable capacity retention of 74.2% after 50 cycles, and remarkable rate capability, demonstrating great potential as anode materials for high-performance LIBs.