Using Prussian blue as a self-sacrificial template to construct MnO/MnFe2O4 microcubes as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

•Using Prussian blue (PB) as a self-sacrificing template to prepare MnO/MnFe2O4 microcube composite with low cost.•The MnO/MnFe2O4 composite can provide more insertion sites for lithium ions during the cycles.•The hollow microcubic structure of MnO/MnFe2O4 composite can alleviate volume expansion.•The analysis of the excellent electrochemical performance of MnO/MnFe2O4 composite can provide new ideas for future research. MnO/MnFe2O4 composite as anode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is reported in this article. The MnO/MnFe2O4 composite inherits the regular cubic structure of the Prussian blue (PB) precursor, which can buffer volume expansion. The porous structure provides more insertion sites for lithium ions, so that the presence of bimetals can better play the role of increasing capacity. The MnO/MnFe2O4 anodes demonstrate high capacity of 898 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1. It exhibits long-cycle stability during 350 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g−1, and the discharge capacity is still 684 mAh g−1.