Preparation and electrochemical evaluation of manganese ferrite spheres as anode materials for half and full lithium-ion batteries

• MnFe2O4 spheres are prepared by a facile two-step route.
• The MnFe2O4 spheres show excellent electrochemical properties in half cell system.
• The integrity of MnFe2O4 electrode could be maintained after the rate test.
• The MnFe2O4 anode works well in full cell system with LiCoO2 as cathode.

A simple hydrothermal method combined with a post annealing treatment is developed to produce high crystallinity manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) spheres. The lithium storage properties of the material as an anode in both half and full lithium-ion batteries are investigated. And the electrochemical behaviors of the electrode during lithiation and delithiation process are clarified. Benefited from its sphere-like morphology, the MnFe2O4 electrode exhibits better lithium storage exhibitions than commercial MnFe2O4 particles in half cell system. When assembled with LiCoO2 to construct a full lithium-ion battery (LiCoO2//MnFe2O4), the spheres could deliver a reversible capacity of higher than 600 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 in the potential range of 1.2–3.8 V. This work clearly demonstrates the possibility of using LiCoO2//MnFe2O4 configuration for practical high-performance lithium-ion batteries in the near future.