Nanotubular FeO and MnO with hierarchical porosity as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Developing eco-friendly and low-cost advanced anode materials, such as Fe 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 , is fundamental to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The rational engineering of the microstructure of Fe 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 to endow it with one-dimensionally and hierarchically porous architecture is a feasible way to further improve and optimize the electrochemical performance of the anode materials. Herein, we demonstrate a facile strategy to prepare nanotubular Fe 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 as advanced anode materials for high-performance LIBs. By combining the merits of the one-dimensionally nanotubular morphology and hierarchically porous structure, limitations in the lithiation activity of Mn 3 O 4 and Fe 2 O 3 anode materials, such as low electrical conductivity, large volume expansion, and sluggish lithium-ion diffusion within the materials, have been effectively overcome. When used as anode materials, t-Fe 2 O 3 and t-Mn 3 O 4 exhibited outstanding electrochemical performances, including a high reversible discharge capacity (859.7 and 901.4 mA h g −1 for t-Fe 2 O 3 and t-Mn 3 O 4 , respectively), excellent rate performance, and ultra-stable cycling stability. Such superior electrochemical performances proved the exceptional potential of the materials for the real-world application in LIBs. A facile method was developed to prepare nanotubular and hierarchically porous Fe 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 , which exhibited a significantly enhanced electrochemical performance for LIBs.