Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Mesoporous MnC2O4 Nanorod/rGO Composite Anode for Lithium-ion Batteries

Abstract MnC2O4 is a promising anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high capacity. However, its application is limited by the poor cyclic-stability and rate performance caused by its low conductivity. Herein, mesoporous MnC2O4 nanorod/rGO composite is prepared via precipitation followed by a reflux reduction process, where MnC2O4 nanorods are attached to the surface of graphene through electrostatic adsorption. This composite delivers a discharge capacity of 1082, 964, and 808 mAh·g-1 after 200 cycles at 3, 5, and 8 C, respectively. The good electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect between mesoporous nanorods and rGO. This synergistic effect not only offers high conductivity, nanoparticles, and abundant mesopores to accelerate electrode kinetics but also provides a more stable structure to reduce the volume effect during the charge/discharge process. Therefore, mesoporous MnC2O4 nanorod/rGO composite can find a potential application in high-energy lithium-ion batteries.