Li2MnSnO4/C anode for high capacity and high rate lithium battery applications

• Currently explored Li2MnSnO4/C is a new lithium battery anode material.
• Li2MnSnO4/C exists in the form of a hybrid with electrochemically active and inactive phases.
• Carbon triggered and thermally induced reversible formation of Li2MnSnO4 is possible.
• Newly identified pristine Li2MnSnO4 exists as a single phase compound.
• Li2SnO3 + Mn2SnO4 + Li2O from Li2MnSnO4/C is responsible for the superior capacity.

Newly identified Li2MnSnO4/C nanocomposite, found to exist as a hybrid consisting of electrochemically active and inactive phases in the form of Li2SnO3, Mn2SnO4 and Li2O has been prepared by oxalyl dihydrazide assisted combustion method. Due to the presence of electrochemically active Li2SnO3 and Mn2SnO4 phases, an appreciable capacity of 610 and 400 mAh g−1 have been exhibited by Li2MnSnO4/C anode under a current density of 100 and 500 mA g−1 respectively. The in-situ formed electrochemically inactive Li2O phase and the presence of conducting carbon network offer excellent capacity retention of ∼99% to the title anode. The study demonstrates the possibility of exploiting Li2MnSnO4/C as a high capacity and high rate lithium battery anode with appreciable coulombic efficiency.