Synthesis of MnO anchored on carbon sheet networks using NaCl as template and its improved lithium-storage properties

MnO is considered as an attractive anode material for lithium ion batteries. However, the drastic volume changes during lithiation, and the low intrinsic conductivity will restrict the application of MnO anode. In this work, the MnO@carbon network hybrid is fabricated through template-based synthesis combing with vacuum freeze-drying, followed by a thermal reduction process. The resulting composite (MnO@carbon networks hybrid) is made up of thin carbon sheet networks and MnO particles anchored on carbon networks. The thin carbon sheet networks with high electrical conductivity can efficiently improve the conductivity of the hybrid, shorten the transport path of Li+, and buffer the drastic volume changes of nanosized MnO particles. As a consequence, the MnO@carbon network hybrid shows improved lithium-storages properties, which exhibits a highly reversible capacity of 1027 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1) after 100 cycles and outstanding rate capacity of 321 mA h g(-1) at 5 A g(-1).