Hierarchical CoO/MnCo2O4.5 nanorod arrays on flexible carbon cloth as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

A facile synthetic route is presented to fabricate highly ordered three-dimensional hierarchical CoO/MnCo₂O_4.5 nanorod arrays on carbon cloth (CC) as a high performance anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Inheriting the merits from the CC substrate and the special hierarchical architecture, as well as the interfacial and synergistic effects between CoO nanorods and MnCo₂O_4.5 nanosheets, the as-prepared product exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance in terms of high reversible capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability. Electrochemical characterization depicts that the hierarchical CoO/MnCo₂O_4.5 nanorod electrode can retain a high reversible capacity of about 1183 mA h g⁻¹ at 200 mA⁻¹ for the second cycle and a high rate capacity of 657 mA h g⁻¹ at 1000 mA⁻¹. After 120 cycles, a reversible capacity of 1030 mA h g⁻¹ at 200 mA⁻¹ can be maintained without obvious decay. These results demonstrate that the hierarchical CoO/MnCo₂O_4.5 nanorod array on CC is a promising candidate as an anode material for LIBs with superior properties.