Formation of multiporous MnO/N-doped carbon configuration via carbonthermal reduction for superior electrochemical properties

•Multiporous MnO/NC was prepared from the void-free EMD.•Multiporous MnO are evenly encapsulated in heteroatom N-doped carbon layer.•The hybrid delivers impressive electrochemical performance.

Herein, the multiporous MnO/N-doped carbon (MnO/NC) composite based on the abundant and inexpensive electrolytic manganese dioxide were fabricated through a facile microwave-assisted carbonthermal reduction, combined with a subsequent in-situ polymerization of polydopamine onto MnO along with thermal treatment. As an anode material, it retains a reversible capacity of 770.5 mAh g−1 at 300 mA g−1 and high Coulombic efficiency of 99% over 500 cycles, superior than those values of the pure multiporous MnO alone. The impressive performance is attributed to the splendid structure stability contributed by well-connected three-dimensional porous configuration and the enhanced reaction kinetics as well as electrical conductivity incurred by N-doped carbon layer with multiple type nitrogen.