Synthesis of MnO/C/Co3O4 nanocomposites by a Mn2+-oxidizing bacterium as a biotemplate for lithium-ion batteries

The biotemplate and bioconversion strategy represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to material manufacturing. In the current study, biogenic manganese oxide aggregates of the Mn²⁺-oxidizing bacterium Pseudomonas sp. T34 were used as a precursor to synthesize a biocomposite that incorporated Co (CMC-Co) under mild shake-flask conditions based on the biomineralization process of biogenic Mn oxides and the characteristics of metal ion subsidies. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, phase composition and fine structure analyses demonstrated that hollow MnO/C/Co₃O₄ multiphase composites were fabricated after high-temperature annealing of the biocomposites at 800°C. The cycling and rate performance of the prepared anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were compared. Due to the unique hollow structure and multiphasic state, the reversible discharge capacity of CMC-Co remained at 650 mAh g^-1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.1 Ag^-1, and the coulombic efficiency remained above 99% after the second cycle, indicating a good application potential as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Controllable synthesis of α- and β-MnO(2): cationic effect on hydrothermal crystallization

α- and β-MnO(2) were controllably synthesized by hydrothermally treating amorphous MnO(2) obtained via a reaction between Mn(2+) and MnO(4)(-), and cationic effects on the hydrothermal crystallization of MnO(2) were investigated systematically. The crystallization is believed to proceed by a dissolution-recrystallization mechanism; i.e. amorphous MnO(2) dissolves first under hydrothermal conditions, then condenses to recrystallize, and the polymorphs formed are significantly affected by added cations such as K(+), NH(4)(+) and H(+) in the hydrothermal systems. The experimental results showed that K(+)/NH(4)(+) were in competition with H(+) to form polymorphs of α- and β-MnO(2), i.e., higher relative K(+)/NH(4)(+) concentration favoured α-MnO(2), while higher relative H(+) concentration favoured β-MnO(2).