Synthesis and electrochemical performance of mesoporous MnC 2 O 4 nanorod/rGO composite anode for lithium-ion batteries

MnC 2 O 4 is a promising anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high capacity. However, the application is limited by the poor cyclic-stability and rate performance due to its low conductivity. Herein, a mesoporous MnC 2 O 4 nanorod/rGO composite is prepared via precipitation followed by a reflux reduction process, where MnC 2 O 4 nanorods are attached to the surface of graphene through electrostatic adsorption. This composite delivers a discharge capacity of 1082, 964, and 808 mAh g −1 after 200 cycles at 3, 5, and 8 C, respectively. The good electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect between mesoporous nanorod and rGO, which not only offers high conductivity, nanoparticles, and abundant mesopores to accelerate electrode kinetics but also provides a more stable structure to reduce the volume effect during the charge/discharge process. Therefore, the mesoporous MnC 2 O 4 nanorod/rGO composite could be used as an excellent candidate for its potential application in high-energy lithium-ion batteries.