Influence of Mn content on the morphology and improved electrochemical properties of Mn3O4|MnO@carbon nanofiber as anode material for lithium batteries

A series of composites manganese oxide/carbon with one-dimensional structure are synthesized using electrospinning. The phase composition, morphology and electrochemical performance of MnOx/carbon are studied, which affected by the manganese concentration in precursor and subsequent carbonization conditions. The manufacture of MnOx/carbon is composed of two steps including thermal stabilization (at 250 degrees C in air) and carbonization (at 700 degrees C in nitrogen). The main functional groups of samples are well identified by FT-IR spectra. The sample Mn33_3h with the lowest manganese content presents the construction structure which amorphous and/or nanosized MnOx with smaller crystal size are grown and enwrapped in carbon fiber during carbonization. Mn33_3h presents the initial charge and discharge capacities of 1054.1 and 665.6 mAh g(-1), and the discharge capacity at the 50th cycle remains 99.7% of that at the 2nd cycle. Beside the well rate capability at the range of current densities from 20 to 1000 mA g(-1), Mn33_3h presents very good recovery ability after high rate cycling at 1000 mA g(-1). The advantages of this composite structure as well as its high capacity make manganese oxide a very attractive candidate as an anode material for the next generation of rechargeable lithium ion batteries. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.