Hierarchical nanostructured MnF2 fabricated using rapid microwave synthesis as abnormal high-capacity of anode materials for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Tailoring various architectures of electrode material has been deemed a feasible route for improving the surface reactivity, the contact area between electrode and electrolyte, and enabling shortened electronic pathways to realize higher performance lithium-ion batteries. Here, we rapidly synthesized the manganese fluoride (MnF2) with various morphologies by microwave irradiation using ionic liquid as the fluoride source, soft template, and microwave absorber solvent. The hierarchical nanostructured MnF2 were optimized by controlling the purity of ionic liquid, microwave heating rate, and precursor concentration. The dominant factors influencing the morphologies of MnF2 were systematically investigated and relevant descriptions for the formation mechanism were suggested. Also, we demonstrated the abnormal high-capacity lithium-ion battery anode using the hierarchical nanostructured MnF2 anode based on the conversion mechanism. The prepared MnF2 anode yielded a maximum reversible specific capacity of 986 mAhg−1 at 0.1C after 30 cycles. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the morphological control of the hierarchical structured MnF2 using the microwave-ionic liquid combination method for high-capacity lithium-ion battery anode.