Facile synthesis of Manganese selenide anchored in Three-Dimensional carbon nanosheet matrix with enhanced Lithium storage properties

Abstract

Abstract Manganese selenide (MnSe), a conversion-type anode for Lithium-ion batteries with low cost and high specific capacity, is impeded the development by drastic volume changes and poor kinetics in Li+ insertion/desertion processes. In this study, we successfully synthesized uniform MnSe nanoparticles anchored in 3D carbon nanosheet matrix (MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM) via a facile sol–gel and selenation route. The obtained 3DCNM contributes high surface area, increased active sites for N-doping, excellent electric conductivity and stable nanostructure to MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM, thereby leading to full lithiation/delithiation reactions, excellent electrochemical kinetics and buffer volume expansion of MnSe nanoparticles. Among these MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM materials, MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM-1.92 exhibits superior cycle stability with a stable reversible capacity of 665.5\xa0mA\xa0h\xa0g−1 after 200 cycles and excellent rate capabilities in half cells. When combined with LiMn2O4 cathode, the MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM-1.92//LiMn2O4 full cells also exhibit excellent electrochemical properties. The kinetic analysis and EIS results demonstrate the generation of intermediate LixMnSe phase and the irreversible phase transformation of α-MnSe\xa0→\xa0β-MnSe with decreased diffusion energy barriers mainly facilitate MnSe\xa0⊂\xa03DCNM-1.92 to exhibit high specific capacity, superior Li+ and electron transport kinetics. This facile strategy provides a guideline for the other transition metal selenides with high surface areas and stable nanostructures apply in storage systems, electrocatalysis, and semiconductors.