Synthesis of porous Mn2O3 embedded in reduced graphene oxide as advanced anode materials for lithium storage

Abstract

We describe a facile method to prepare porous manganese oxides (Mn₂O₃) embedded in reduced graphene oxide (rGO). First, the porous Mn₂O₃ nanospheres were generated from the coordination self-assembled aggregations (referred to as Mn(OAc)₂-C-8), serving as precursors via calcination treatment, followed by a graphene-coating approach. The reduced graphene oxide coating Mn₂O₃ (Mn₂O₃@rGO) composites not only provide superior conductivity and prevent large volume expansion, resolving the challenges of pure Mn₂O₃ nanospheres, but also remedy the imperfection of the inferior specific capacity of traditional graphite materials. When evaluated as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the Mn₂O₃@rGO electrode exhibits a high initial specific capacity (1684.9 mA h g⁻¹), excellent cycling performance (1207.9 mA h g⁻¹ over 150 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹), and high coulombic efficiency (99% after 150 cycles), as well as high rate capacity (730.0 mA h g⁻¹ over 150 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹). The unique structural design and synergistic effect may offer a practical conception for the development of new next-generation LIBs.