Facile synthesis of α-MnO2/graphene nanocomposites and their high performance as lithium-ion battery anode

alpha-MnO2/graphene nanocomposites are synthesized via a facile wet-chemical route, and alpha-MnO2 nanosheets are uniformly distributed on the surface of graphene. Their high performance as lithium ion battery anodes is obtained. Their reversible capacity at C/10 rate is up to 726.5 mA h/g, and maintains up to 635.5 mA h/g after 30 cycles. Such a performance can be partly attributed to high electron conductivity, excellent flexibility and high specific surface area of graphene. Also, alpha-MnO2 nanostructures can play a role in preventing the pile of graphene nanosheets with the loss of their active surface area. The present results indicate that alpha-MnO2/graphene nanocomposites have potential applications in lithium-ion battery anodes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.