Formation of Nanostructured MnO/Co/Solid–Electrolyte Interphase Ternary Composites as a Durable Anode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Nanoporous MnO frameworks with highly dispersed Co nanoparticles were produced from MnCO3 precursors prepared in a gel matrix. The MnO frameworks that contain 20 mol% Co exhibited excellent cycle performance as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed in the frameworks through the electrochemical reaction mediates the active materials, such as MnO, Mn, and Li2O, during the conversion reaction in the charge-discharge cycle. The Co nanoparticles and SEI provide the electron and Li-ion conductive networks, respectively. The ternary nanocomposites of the MnO framework, metallic Co nanoparticles, and embedded SEI are categorized as durable anode materials for Li-ion batteries.