Facile preparation of Mn3O4-coated carbon nanofibers on copper foam as a high-capacity and long-life anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were deposited on Cu foam by a floating catalyst method, and a Mn3O4 layer was then coated onto the deposited CNFs via a hydrothermal process based on the redox reaction of carbon and potassium permanganate. The obtained architecture of Mn3O4-coated CNFs (CNFs@Mn3O4) on Cu foam was directly used as an anode for lithium-ion batteries without using any binder or conducting additive. The anode showed high reversible capacity, good cycle stability and superior rate capability. A reversible capacity of up to 1210.4 mA h g(-1) was obtained after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1). When the current density increased to 5000 mA g(-1), it could deliver a capacity of more than 300 mA h g(-1). The excellent electrochemical performance could be attributed to the unique morphology of the CNFs@Mn3O4 nanocomposites, which can buffer the volume change, decrease the contact resistance, shorten the ionic diffusion path and make the electron transport more efficient.