Synthesis of ultralong MnO/C coaxial nanowires as freestanding anodes for high-performance lithium ion batteries

Publisher's PDFA facile synthesis strategy is reported for the preparation of a freestanding membrane of ultralong MnO/C coaxial nanowires using a novel in situ interfacial polymerization technique. The MnO/C membrane possesses interconnected porous structures with a nanowire diameter of ca. 100 nm and a length of up to hundreds of micrometers. When used as a freestanding anode for lithium ion batteries, the coaxial MnO/C nanocomposites exhibit a high reversible capacity of 832 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles, good rate capability and outstanding cycling stability with a specific capacity of 480 mA h g−1 being retained after 600 cycles at a high current density of 1000 mA g−1. The uniform carbon coating formed along the ultralong one-dimensional nanostructure surface is the key-enabling factor that not only improves the electrode reaction kinetics, but also renders excellent cycling performance by accommodating the large volume variation of MnO during charge/discharge processes. The superior electrochemical properties suggest that the facile synthesis strategy can be extended to the fabrication of other freestanding films for potential application in energy storage systems.University of Delaware. Department of Mechanical Engineering