Highly efficient formation of Mn3O4-graphene oxide hybrid aerogels for use as the cathode material of high performance lithium ion batteries

We report a combined hydrothermal treatment and freeze-drying method to fabricate Mn3O4-graphene oxide (GO) hybrid aerogels for use as the cathode material of lithium ion batteries. Results indicate that the Mn3O4-GO hybrids show much better lithium storage capacity and rate capability than Mn3O4/reduced GO powder obtained by calcination of the hydrothermally treated sample dried at 300 °C for 30 min under an argon atmosphere. The stronger interaction between GO and Mn3O4 compared with that between reduced GO and Mn3O4 is beneficial for the improvement of utilization rate of Mn3O4 and therefore the capacity. Also the higher porosity of the Mn3O4-GO hybrids than that of the Mn3O4/reduced GO allows faster ion diffusion and therefore a higher rate capability. A typical Mn3O4/GO hybrid with a Mn3O4 content of 70 wt.% exhibits the highest specific capacity of 1 073 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 85% of after 200 cycles at 800 mA g−1. The method is promising for the large-scale, environmentally friendly production of MnOx-GO hybrids for lithium ion batteries.