Hydrothermal realization of a hierarchical, flowerlike MnWO4@MWCNTs nanocomposite with enhanced reversible Li storage as a new anode material.

A phase-pure MnWO4-based nanocomposite, MnWO4@MWCNTs (MWCNTs=multiwalled carbon nanotubes), was successfully synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C by adjusting the pH of the precursor medium. The resulting nanocomposite maintains the original flowerlike morphology of MnWO4 with hierarchical structures composed of numerous single-crystalline nanorods that drive growth preferentially along the [001] direction. The growth mechanism for the flowerlike formations is also discussed. In addition, the Li electroactivity of pure MnWO4 and MnWO4@MWCNTs electrodes was investigated. As an anode for Li-ion batteries, the MnWO4@MWCNTs nanocomposite showed enhanced electrochemical performance in reversible Li storage relative to that shown by bare MnWO4 electrodes, including a high capacity of 425 mAh g(-1) and superior rate performance. This performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the nanocomposite combined with the MWCNTs, which provide efficient electron transport in their role as a conductor.