Anchoring Mn3O4 nanoparticles onto nitrogen-doped porous carbon spheres derived from carboxymethyl chitosan as superior anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Mn3O4/nitrogen-doped porous carbon sphere (NPCS) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple solvothermal process. In the nanocomposites, highly crystalline Mn3O4 nanoparticles (10–20 nm) were homogeneously anchored onto conducting NPCS derived from carboxymethyl chitosan. When used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the Mn3O4/NPCS nanocomposites displayed a high specific capacity of 1629 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles, higher than the values for pure Mn3O4 and NPCS. Even at 2000 mA g−1, a reversible capacity of 764 mAh g−1 could still be obtained. The excellent electrochemical performance of the Mn3O4/NPCS nanocomposites can be ascribed to the N-doping and their particular hybrid structure.