Polydopamine directed MnO@C microstructures as electrode for lithium ion battery

In this work, a facile process was reported to fabricate amorphous carbon-coated MnO micropeanuts (MPs) with 1.8 mu m in length and 1.0 mu m in width using hydrothermal reaction followed by heat treatment in the oxygen-free environment. With MnCl2 and KMnO4 dissolved in the mixture of ethylene glycol and water, MnCO3 MP precursors were obtained via the hydrothermal reaction with dopamine as surfactant. Then MnCO3 MP was annealed at 600 degrees C in the N-2 atmosphere and was transformed into MnO MP, and simultaneously the formed polydopamine during the hydrothermal reaction was carbonized to produce amorphous carbon-coating on the MnO MP surface. In contrast, MnCO3 nanoparticle (NP) precursor was formed without the addition of dopamine and MnO NP agglomerates were prepared after pyrolysis. The carbonization of polydopamine during thermolysis improves the electrical conductivity and thermal stability of the MnO MP and thus its electrochemical performance as electrode materials for lithium ion battery. Hopefully, this facile strategy for fabricating and designing carbon-coated materials would inspire more novel nanostructures and applications thereof.