Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnMn2O4 hybrids as improved anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

With the constantly increasing demands of high energy density and long life span energy storage devices, people are looking for high-performance and safe anode materials as alternatives to replace graphite in lithium-ion batteries. A facile coprecipitation method has been developed to synthesize Ag/ZnMn2O4 (Ag/ZMO) hybrids with various weight ratios of Ag as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the addition of Ag nanoparticles not only improves the conductivity of electrode material but also enhances the initial coulombic efficiency and the cycle stability of electrode materials. After 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1, the optimum Ag/ZMO hybrid can still maintain an ultra-high average capacity of 1300 mAh g−1. It is anticipated that our work may open up a new avenue to rapidly and massively produce various anode materials decorated with Ag nanoparticles for lithium-ion batteries.