Delicate Control of Multishelled Zn-Mn-O Hollow Microspheres as a High-Performance Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Mixed/composite oxides of transition metals with hollow structures, especially multishelled hollow architecture, have promising potential for different applications, but their syntheses still remain a big challenge. Herein, a facile coordination polymer precursor method was developed to construct various multishelled Zn-Mn-O hollow microspheres, including ZnMnO, ZnMnO, and ZnMnO/MnO. The composition of the hollow structures can be adjusted by controlling the composition of the coordination polymer precursors, which are easily obtained with Zn, Mn, and salicylic acid under solvothermal conditions. With a simple programmable heating process, the shell of the hollow structures can be adjusted and double-/triple-shelled ZnMnO, ZnMnO, and ZnMnO/MnO hollow microspheres have been controllably obtained. When the triple-shelled ZnMnO hollow microspheres are used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, excellent activity and enhanced stability can be achieved. The triple-shelled hollow ZnMnO exhibits a reversible capacity of 537 mA·h·g at 400 mA·g and a nearly 100% capacity retention after 150 cycles. This strategy is facile and scalable for the production of high-quality complex hollow nanostructures, with the possibility of extension to the preparation of other mixed metal oxides with complex structures.