Ultrafast synthesis of spinel AMn2O4 (A= Co, Mn, Zn) nanopolyhedras and their composites applied to lithium ion battery anode

Spinel oxide anode materials are hardly used for commercial lithium-ion batteries because of their evident volume expansion in the discharging process and poor electronic conduction. Preparing a composite material of nanostructured spinel bimetallic oxides and carbon will solve the above problems and achieve outstanding electrochemical performance. In this study, an ultrafast approach (only 10 min) to synthesize spinel AMn ₂O ₄ (A= Co, Mn, Zn) nanopolyhedras and their composites with GO was successfully developed. Integrating spinel CoMn ₂O ₄ nanopolyhedras with GO can profoundly inhibit the problem of volume expansion but also eminently upgrading conductivity. The CoMn ₂O ₄/GO composite anode displays competent cyclic life and rate capability for lithium ion battery, delivering a large capacity of 738 mAh g ⁻¹ after 340 cycles at 2 A g ⁻¹. The ultrafast approach and alluring electrochemical performance of this work will inevitably give impetus to the fast development and application of spinel oxides.