Mn3O4 nanocrystals anchored on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Mn3O4 nanocomposite with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been successfully fabricated via a simple solvothermal route assisted by sodium acetate. Mn3O4 nanocrystals are uniformly anchored on MWCNTs. As anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the nanocomposite exhibits excellent cycling stability and rate capability. It delivers an initial reversible capacity of 1380 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 100 mA g(-1), and retains the capacity to 592 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles. Even at 1000 mA g(-1), the capacity is still 387 mAh g(-1) after 35 cycles. The superior performance is ascribed to the unique architecture with short diffusion length for lithium ions and effective conductive network for electron transport. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.