Composite of Fe3O4/MnCO3 as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

A novel near in situ composite of Fe3O4/MnCO3, with solid microsphere structure, is prepared by a simple one-step solvothermal method. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) mappings and XRD patterns show that the multicomponent materials are composited mixing of MnCO3 and Fe3O4. The cyclic voltammogram curves of the Fe3O4/MnCO3 composite look like that the curves of Fe3O4 are superimposed on the curve of MnCO3. It's implicated that the electrochemical process of the composite is the simple addition of Fe3O4 and MnCO3 materials. The Fe3O4/MnCO3 composite delivers a reversible capacity of 617 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles, much higher than that of pure MnCO3 (287 mA h g-1) and pure Fe3O4 (473 mA h g-1). Compared to MnCO3 and Fe3O4, the superior electrochemical performance of Fe3O4/MnCO3 composite electrode can be attributed to composition with microspheres structure and good conductivity.