Anchoring Nanostructured Manganese Fluoride on Few-Layer Graphene Nanosheets as Anode for Enhanced Lithium Storage

Manganese fluoride (MnF2)/few-layer graphene nanosheets (GNS) composites are successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal method. It is found that in situ formed tetragonal MnF2 submicron crystals (50-200 nm) with good crystallinity anchoring homogeneously onto conducting GNS, allows the electrically insulating MnF2 particles to be wired up to the current collector with enhanced electron transport pathway. The MnF2/GNS composites act as anode in LIBs and display prominently improved electrochemical performance in comparison to that of pure MnF2, on account of the close interactions between the underlying graphene nanosheets and MnF2 particles grown atop. Distinctly enhanced capacity as high as 489 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles can be obtained at 600 mA g(-1), while the self-activation process can be greatly accelerated at 6000 mA g(-1) with a maximum specific capacity of 530 mAh g(-1). With long cycling stability for 4000 cycles at 6000 mA g(-1), the MnF2/GNS composite can be deemed as an attractive candidate anode for high-capacity, long cycle life, and environmentally friendly LIBs.