In Situ Synthesis of Mn3O4 Nanoparticles on Hollow Carbon Nanofiber as High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Battery Anode

The practical applications of Mn3O4 in lithium‐ion batteries are greatly hindered by fast capacity decay and poor rate performance as a result of significant volume changes and low electrical conductivity. It is believed that the synthesis of nanoscale Mn3O4 combined with carbonaceous matrix will lead to a better electrochemical performance. Herein, a convenient route for the synthesis of Mn3O4 nanoparticles grown in situ on hollow carbon nanofiber (denoted as HCF/Mn3O4) is reported. The small size of Mn3O4 particles combined with HCF can significantly alleviate volume changes and electrical conductivity; the strong chemical interactions between HCF and Mn3O4 would improve the reversibility of the conversion reaction for MnO into Mn3O4 and accelerate charge transfer. These features endow the HCF/Mn3O4 composite with superior cycling stability and rate performance if used as the anode for lithium‐ion batteries. The composite delivers a high discharge capacity of 835 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1, and 652 mA h g−1 after 240 cycles at 1000 mA g−1. Even at 2000 mA g−1, it still shows a high capacity of 528 mA h g−1. The facile synthetic method and outstanding electrochemical performance of the as‐prepared HCF/Mn3O4 composite make it a promising candidate for a potential anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. Restricted expansion: The practical applications of Mn3O4 in lithium‐ion batteries are greatly hindered by fast capacity decay and poor rate performance as a result of significant volume changes and low electrical conductivity. A composite composed of Mn3O4 nanoparticles on hollow carbon nanofibers (HCF/Mn3O4) was synthesized by a facile in situ method. The unique nanostructure leads to excellent electrochemical performance (see figure).