Γ-MnS/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with great lithium storage capacity

•A one-step hydrothermal method was employed to fabricate γ-MnS/rGO nanocomposites.•The γ-MnS/rGO delivered a capacity of ca. 600 mAh/g at 200 mA/g for 100 cycles.•The γ-MnS/rGO can still deliver a capacity of ca. 320 mAh/g even at 1000 mA/g.

The synthesis, characterization and electrochemical study of γ-MnS/rGO nanocomposites are described in this work. A one-pot hydro-thermal method is employed to fabricate γ-MnS/rGO electrodes. l-cysteine is used as sulfur source as well as the reduction of GO to rGO. The resulting materials are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and TG. Γ-MnS particles dispersing on the surface of reduced graphene oxide have the average diameter of ca. 37 nm. As a splendid anode material for lithium-ion batteries, γ-MnS/rGO nanocomposites achieve a stable specific capacity of ca. 600 mAh/g at a current density of 200 mA/g for 100 cycles and deliver a great rate performance (a reversible capacity of ca. 320 mAh/g even at a high current density of 1000 mA/g). All of these electrochemical performances are greater than those of the pristine MnS.