Synthesis and electrochemical performances of sea-urchin-like Mn₂O₃ as lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

In this paper, a facile hydrothermal synthesis of precursor MnO₂ and subsequent high-temperature calcination has been used to prepare sea-urchin-like Mn₂O₃.The influences of calcination temperatures on the structures and electrochemical performances of Mn₂O₃ are clearly studied. The results show that the elevated temperature helps to improve the crystallinity and particle size, the 700°C sample shows an optimal electrochemical performance. Therein, a high discharge capacity of 765.7 mAh g^− 1 can be retained after 50 cycles at 200 mA g^− 1, and a value of 465.8 mAh g^− 1 can be kept at 800 mA g^− 1.More importantly, a surprised calcination temperature determines phenomenon that discharges capacity increase upon cycles can be observed, which may be useful for the design and nanostructured of Mn-based oxides as lithium-ion battery anodes.

Keywords:

• Mn₂O₃
• Sea urchin-like
• Calcination temperature
• Lithium-ion battery
• Anode materials

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the financial supports from the Scientific Start Foundation of LongYan University (LB2014001), from the Cultivation Program of National Natural Science Foundation (LG2014008), the School Research Program of LongYan University (LC2013008) and the Science and Technology Program of LongYan (2014LY36).