•Tube shape MnO/Cp composite is fabricated by pyrolysis and polymerization of the Mn-PTCDA compound.•Capacity can be enhanced by introducing PTCDA to increase the electroconductivity.•MnO/Cp composite retains favorable reversible capacity of 1066 mAh g−1 under a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles.The composite of MnO and carbon pyrolysis from PTCDA (named as MnO/Cp) has been synthesized via a facile adsorption of Mn2+ on 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), followed by thermal annealing process. PTCDA is employed as a precursor of carbon and forms a tube shape via calcination. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), this interesting and novel construction promotes electron transport and cycling stability. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap of conjugated polymers by the B3LYP/6-31g(d), genecp/lanl2dz functional and basis set, demonstrates the wonderful potential of electronic transmission, resulting in the high electron transport efficiency and great conductivity of the MnO/Cp composite. The favorable reversible capacity of 1066 mAh g−1 is maintained after 100 cycles under a current density of 100 mA g−1. The tube shape carbon from PTCDA pyrolysis optimizes the stability and electroconductivity of the framework, thereby, obtaining the extraordinary electrochemical properties. The interesting synthesis process and structure provide a new approach for anode materials of LIBs.Tube shape MnO/Cp is fabricated by pyrolysis and polymerization of the Mn-PTCDA coordination compound to significantly increase the electron transport efficiency. This innovative composite as battery anode delivers excellent specific capacity, good rate capability and long cycling lifetime.Download high-res image (53KB)Download full-size image

•Layered double hydroxides were employed as precursors to synthesize CoMn2O4.•The CoMn2O4 nanoparticles behaved good electrochemical performance.•This study provides a guideline for preparing bimetallic oxides.In the field of lithium-ion batteries, CoMn2O4 as an anode material has attracted a wide attention because it inherited the splendid electrochemical performances of Mn and Co-based metal oxides. Compared to graphite, Co-based oxides have a higher capacity which is about twice of the graphite. Moreover, Mn-based oxides have lower operating voltages and manganese exists abundantly in nature. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), similar with brucite structure, were used as precursor for CoMn2O4 nanoparticles in this work. Under high temperature process, the LDHs decomposed to CoMn2O4 nanoparticles. When evaluated as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the CoMn2O4 nanoparticles behaved good electrochemical performance with the discharge and charge capacity of 733 mAh g−1 and 721 mAh g−1 at current density of 200 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. This method for preparing CoMn2O4 nanoparticles is easy, which may provide a way for synthesis of other bimetallic oxides and anodes of lithium ion batteries.

Herein, we report a moderate and simple approach to synthesize nickel phosphide nanorods on nickel foam (Ni2P/NF), which was employed as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this paper, interconnected Ni2P nanorods were fabricated through hydrothermal treatment of NF and subsequently by high temperature phosphating. NF is not only regarded as nickel source and metal current collector, but also as a support to grow electro-active material (Ni2P). Therefore, Ni2P/NF could act as a self-supported working electrode for LIBs without any extra addition of cohesive binders. Moreover, benefiting from the conductive capacity of Ni2P/NF, the active compound behaved superior lithium storage performance and cycling reversibility during electrochemical cycling process. The Ni2P/NF delivered excellent reversibility of 507 mAh g−1 at the current density of 50 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. This work may provide a potential method for preparation of metal phosphides as promising materials for LIBs, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or other fields.

•CoS/CNTs nanocomposites were prepared by a simple and effective solvothermal method.•Compared with pristine CoS, CoS/CNTs nanocomposites had superior cycle stability.•CoS/CNTs nanocomposites kept a high discharge capacity of 780 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 100 mA g−1.Cobalt sulfide (CoS) has a high theoretical capacity as an anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), however it suffers from poor cyclability and weak retention. Therefore, a lot of efforts have been devoted to overcome these defects. In this work, cobalt sulfide/carbon nanotubes (CoS/CNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple and effective solvothermal method. The nanocomposites were constructed by CoS nanoparticles coated on the carbon nanotubes and the electrochemical performances of the CoS/CNTs nanocomposites were investigated as anode materials for LIBs. The results showed that the materials had superior cycle stability and kept a high discharge capacity of 780 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g−1. The excellent electrochemical performances are due to the good combination of the hybrid structure and better electron transportation originated from CNTs. The CoS/CNTs nanocomposites with excellent rate capabilities and super capabilities could be promising anode material for lithium ion battery.

Porous carbon-coated CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra were successfully prepared with the assistance of a metal–organic framework (MOF). In this work, the MOF not only played a role as a template to form the polyhedra, but also provided a carbon matrix to coat CuCo2O4 under the high temperature pyrolysis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) (one kind of MOF). The porous carbon-coated CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra delivered a superior capacity. This good property can be attributed to the following reasons. Firstly, a good framework was provided by the MOF to form the porous polyhedron structures, which showed a large specific surface area, enhancing the contact between the electrode and electrolyte. Secondly, the carbon layer coated on the CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra could accommodate the volume change during the process of lithiation–delithiation and further enhance the conductivity of the electrode. The synthesis process of porous CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra proves that the approach has a promising application for the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), catalysis, energy fields, etc.

Porous carbon-coated CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra were successfully prepared with the assistance of a metal–organic framework (MOF). In this work, the MOF not only played a role as a template to form the polyhedra, but also provided a carbon matrix to coat CuCo2O4 under the high temperature pyrolysis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) (one kind of MOF). The porous carbon-coated CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra delivered a superior capacity. This good property can be attributed to the following reasons. Firstly, a good framework was provided by the MOF to form the porous polyhedron structures, which showed a large specific surface area, enhancing the contact between the electrode and electrolyte. Secondly, the carbon layer coated on the CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra could accommodate the volume change during the process of lithiation–delithiation and further enhance the conductivity of the electrode. The synthesis process of porous CuCo2O4 concave polyhedra proves that the approach has a promising application for the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), catalysis, energy fields, etc.