High electrochemical properties of graphene nanoribbons-hybridized manganese dioxide as cathode material for lithium battery

Manganese dioxide crystallite and its composite hybridized with graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are prepared by hydrothermal method. The effects of reaction temperature and time, surfactant, and reducing Mn resource are discussed. As the cathode material for Li battery, γ-MnO2 nanowire/nanorod hybridizing with (GNRs) (γ-MnO2/GNRs) shows a higher discharge specific capacity than it covering with carbon nanotubes or graphene sheets. In addition, the discharge specific capacity of γ-MnO2/GNRs is much higher than those of pure β-MnO2 and compact β-MnO2/GNRs. The effects of crystal size, morphology, and GNR hybrid on the discharge specific capacity are discussed.