Porous Manganese Oxide Networks as High-Capacity and High-Rate Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A mesoporous MnOx network (MMN) structure and MMN/C composites were prepared and evaluated as anodes for high-energy and high-rate lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in comparison to typical manganese oxide nanoparticle (MnNP) and graphite anodes, not only in a half-cell but also in a full-cell configuration (assembled with an NCM523, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2, cathode). With the mesoporous features of the MMN, the MMN/C exhibited a high capacity (approximately 720 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)) and an excellent cycling stability at low electrode resistance compared to the MnNP/C composite. The MMN/C composite also showed much greater rate responses than the graphite anode. Owing to the inherent high discharge (de-lithiation) voltage of the MMN/C than graphite as anodes, however, the MMN||NCM523 full cell showed approximately 87.4% of the specific energy density of the Gr||NCM523 at 0.2 C. At high current density above 0.2 C, the MMN||NCM523 cell delivered much higher energy than the Gr||NCM523 mainly due to the excellent rate capability of the MMN/C anode. Therefore, we have demonstrated that the stabilized and high-capacity MMN/C composite can be successfully employed as anodes in LIB cells for high-rate applications.

Automated summary

The mesoporous MnOx network structure and MMN/C composites demonstrated high capacity, excellent cycling stability, and rate response as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Compared to typical manganese oxide nanoparticle and graphite anodes, the MMN/C composite showed superior performance at high rates.