Facile Synthesis of Flower-Like MnCo2O4@PANi-rGO: A High-Performance Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Flower-like MnCo2O4 was prepared in a self-assembly process and used in the formation of MnCo2O4@polyaniline (MnCo2O4@PANi) that proceeds by a simple in situ polymerization. The MnCo2O4@PANi-reduced graphite oxide (MnCo2O4@PANi-rGO) composite was then synthesized by introducing rGO into MnCo2O4@PANi. This modification improves the overall electronic conductivity of the MnCo2O4@PANi-rGO because of the dual conductive functions of rGO and PANi; it also provides a buffer for the changes in electrode volume during cycling, thus improving the lithium-storage performance of MnCo2O4@PANi-rGO. The electrochemical performance of the samples was evaluated by charge/discharge cycling testing, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. MnCo2O4@PANi-rGO delivers a discharge capacity of 745 mAh g(-1) and a Coulombic efficiency of 100 % after 1050 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g(-1), and is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.