Hierarchical porous MnCo2O4 yolk–shell microspheres from MOFs as secondary nanomaterials for high power lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Hierarchical porous MnCo₂O₄ yolk–shell microspheres have been synthesized via a facile chemical precipitation method with subsequent calcination treatment. The hierarchical porous MnCo₂O₄ yolk–shell microspheres as secondary nanomaterials can improve the effective contact area between the MnCo₂O₄ electrode and electrolyte, accommodate the volume variations during cycling, and shorten the Li⁺ diffusion path in the nanoparticles. Benefiting from their particular structure and interconnected pores, as anodes for lithium ion batteries, the hierarchical porous MnCo₂O₄ yolk–shell microspheres show high reversible lithium storage capacity, excellent cycling performance and enhanced rate capability. More importantly, they also exhibit long-life and high-rate lithium storage as high as 691.3 mA h g⁻¹ after 500 cycles even at 1 C.