Ultrafast spray pyrolysis fabrication of a nanophase ZnMn2O4 anode towards high-performance Li-ion batteries

Abstract

In this study, a facile, ultrafast and green spray pyrolysis strategy was developed well to efficiently fabricate nanophase ZnMn₂O₄ (ZMO–W) with homogeneous composition from an aqueous spray solution of manganous acetate and zinc acetate. Compared with other ZMO samples prepared by utilizing absolute ethanol and ethylene glycol as solvents, the ZMO–W product displayed competitively cost-effective advantages with the comprehensive consideration of cost and performance. When evaluated as a promising anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), the resultant ZMO–W exhibited large initial specific capacity (∼1023 mA h g⁻¹), good rate capability, and excellent cycling stability (average capacity degradation of only ∼4.0% per cycle) at 1 C rate. Benefiting from an ultrafast reaction process in seconds, a high yield (∼100%), environmental friendliness (no NO_x emission) and simple equipment requirements (just a tubular furnace), the synthetic methodology we developed here possesses significant potential for rapid large-scale production of advanced ZMO and even other binary transition metal oxides for industrial applications of LIBs.