Uniformly dispersed Sn-MnO@C nanocomposite derived from MnSn(OH)6 precursor as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

• An acetylene reduction route is designed to synthesis uniformly dispersed Sn-MnO@C nanocomposite.
• Synchronously formed Sn and MnO nanocrystalline are uniformly dispersed in the amorphous carbon matrix.
• The composite shows a reversible capacity of 684 mA h g−1 after 280 cycles.
• Fine electrochemical performance attributes to uniformly dispersed nanoparticles, porous structure and carbon matrix coating.

Uniformly dispersed carbon coated Sn-MnO nanocomposite (Sn-MnO@C) has been fabricated by thermal annealing of MnSn(OH)6 nanoparticles precursor in acetylene/argon gas (1/9; v/v). Benefiting from this unique method, the synchronously formed Sn and MnO nanocrystals both with size about 12 nm were uniformly dispersed in the amorphous carbon matrix. Meanwhile, a porous structure appeared which could be attributed to the dehydration of MnSn(OH)6 in the calcination process. As the anode for lithium-ion batteries, the Sn-MnO@C nanocomposite demonstrates a reversible capacity of 684 mA h g−1 after 280 cycles at a current of 100 mA g−1. The fine electrochemical performance mainly attributes to uniformly dispersed nanoparticles, porous structure as well as amorphous carbon matrix coating.