Facile synthesis and Li-ion storage properties of porous Mn-based oxides microspheres

Abstract Porous nanosheets assembled Mn-based oxides (Mn 2 O 3 , MnCo 2 O 4 and CoMn 2 O 4 ) microspheres of diameters about 3–6 μm and pore size distribution mainly around 10 nm have been synthesized by the same facile solvothermal route without any surfactant followed by a calcination process. In virtue of the porous nanosheets constructed microspheres, the Mn-based oxides microspheres Mn 2 O 3 present specific capacities of 650 mAh/g after 100 charge and discharge cycles. Additionally among the three Mn-based oxides the representative specific capacities present an increasing trend as with the increasing percentage of Co element, the plateau of charge and discharge present a lower trend as with the increasing percentage of Mn element which is more suitable as anode materials in high output full batteries. Then the oxides with different components could be applied in different conditions such as the need for high specific capacity or high output lithium-ion batteries. Consequently the easy fabrication of microspheres and excellent electrochemical performances demonstrate Mn-based oxides’ great potential in lithium-ion batteries.