Synthesis of peanut-shaped porous ZnMn2O4microparticles with enhanced lithium storage properties

Peanut-shaped porous ZnMn(2)O(4)microparticles assembled by nanoparticles have been prepared by annealing treatment of the Zn(1/3)Mn(2/3)CO(3)precursors synthesized via a solvothermal reaction in water-triethanolamine binary solvent. The volume ratio of water to triethanolamine remarkably affects the shape and particle size of the carbonate precursor. The monodisperse ZnMn(2)O(4)microparticles with a length of ca. 1 mu m and a width of ca. 0.5 mu m are constructed by many interlinked nanoparticles with a size of ca. 50-90 nm. As anode materials for Li-ion batteries, the peanut-shaped ZnMn(2)O(4)microparticles display an outstanding rate capability with a lithiation capacity of 579 mAh g(-1)at 4 A g(-1)and long-cycle performance with a reversible capacity of 797 mAh g(-1)after 700 cycles at 0.5 A g(-1). The significantly enhanced lithium storage properties benefit from the desired porous micro-/nanostructures with suitable particle sizes, which enable the fast diffusion for lithium ions and the structural integrity of the electrode upon cycling.