Synthesis, characterization and rate capability performance of the micro-porous MnO2 nanowires as cathode material in lithium batteries

•MnO2 nanowires have been synthesized via hydrothermal route.•The nanowires were employed as cathode materials in Li-batteries.•Discharge and cycling stability were studied at different C-rates.•Specific capacity and power density of 251 mAh g−1 and 200 W kg−1 were attained.

A peculiar architecture of one-dimensional MnO2 nanowires was synthesized by an optimized hydrothermal route and has been lucratively exploited to fabricate highly efficient microporous electrode overlays for lithium batteries. These fabricated electrodes comprised of interconnected nanoscale units with wire-shaped profile which exhibits high aspect ratio in the order of 102. Their outstanding intercalation/de-intercalation prerogatives have also been studied to fabricate lithium coin cells which revealed a significant specific capacity and power density of 251 mAh g−1 and 200 W kg−1, respectively. A detailed electrochemical study was performed to elucidate how surface morphology and redox reaction behaviors underlying these electrodes influence the cyclic behavior of the electrode. Rate capability tests at different C-rates were performed to evaluate the capacity and cycling performance of these coin cells.

Graphical abstractTranslating MnO2 nanowires as cathode materials in coin cell and studying their discharge behavior and cycling stability at different C-rates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide