Nanoflaky MnO2/carbon nanotube nanocomposites as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Caterpillar-like nanoflaky MnO2/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites are synthesized via a facile solution method. To build a three-dimensional hierarchy architecture, highly porous interconnected MnO2 nanoflakes are uniformly coated on the surface of the CNTs. As a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the nanoflaky MnO2/CNT nanocomposite electrode exhibits a large reversible capacity of 801 mA h g−1 (∼1000 mA h g−1 can be attributed to the MnO2 porous layer alone) for the first cycle without capacity fade for the first 20 cycles and with a good rate capability. The superior electrochemical performance of the MnO2/CNT nanocomposite electrode compared to the pure MnO2 electrode can be attributed to its unique hierarchy architecture, which is able to provide fast lithium ion and electron transport and to accommodate a large volume change during the conversion reactions.