Porous ZnMn2O4 nanowires as an advanced anode material for lithium ion battery

One-dimensional porous materials have been regarded as a desirable material platform for designing advanced Li-ion batteries, supplying great advantages of 1D Li+ and electron transport pathways, large contact area between the electrode and electrolyte, and the buffer zone for accommodating the mechanical stress caused by repeated Li insertion/extraction. Herein, porous ZnMn2O4 nanowires were synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction and followed by a calcination process. The structure analyses indicated that the porous ZnMn2O4 nanowieres assembled by many tiny nanoparticles. As expected, the sample showed excellent electrochemical properties in term of high specific capacity, long cyclic stability and good rate capability. Porous ZnMn2O4 nanowires maintained a high reversible capacity of 869.5 mA h g(-1) at the current density of 500 mA g(-1) after 100 cycles. Even at high current of 4 A g(-1), it still delivered a specific capacity of 345.4 mAh g(-1), which is closed to the theoretical capacity of graphite (372 mAh g(-1)). These results imply the promising potential of the porous ZnMn2O4 nanowires in advanced LIBs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.