L-Cysteine-Assisted Synthesis of Urchin-Like γ-MnS and Its Lithium Storage Properties

MnS has been attracting more and more attentions in the fields of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high energy density and low voltage potential. In this paper, we present a simple method for the preparation of urchin-like γ-MnS microstructures using L-cysteine and MnCl₂ · 4H₂O as the starting materials. The urchin-like γ-MnS microstructures exhibit excellent cycling stability (823.4 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 500 mA g^-1, after 1000 cycles). And the discharge voltage is about 0.75 V, making it a good candidate for the application as the anode material in LIBs. SEM, TEM, and XRD were employed to inspect the changes of the active materials during the electrochemical process, which clearly indicate that the structural pulverization and reformation of the γ-MnS microstructures play important roles for the maintenance of the electrochemical performance during the charge/discharge process.