Facile Synthesis of Flower-Like MnCo2 O4 @PANi-rGO: A High-Performance Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Flower-like MnCo₂ O₄ was prepared in a self-assembly process and used in the formation of MnCo₂ O₄ @polyaniline (MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi) that proceeds by a simple in situ polymerization. The MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi-reduced graphite oxide (MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi-rGO) composite was then synthesized by introducing rGO into MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi. This modification improves the overall electronic conductivity of the MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi-rGO because of the dual conductive functions of rGO and PANi; it also provides a buffer for the changes in electrode volume during cycling, thus improving the lithium-storage performance of MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi-rGO. The electrochemical performance of the samples was evaluated by charge/discharge cycling testing, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. MnCo₂ O₄ @PANi-rGO delivers a discharge capacity of 745 mAh g^-1 and a Coulombic efficiency of 100 % after 1050 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g^-1 , and is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Keywords: anode materials; conductive polymers; lithium storage; lithium-ion batteries; transition-metal oxides.