Novel Hoberman Sphere Design for Interlaced MnO@CNT Architecture with Atomic Layer Deposition-Coated TiO Overlayer as Advanced Anodes in Li-Ion Battery.

The Hoberman sphere is a stable and stretchable spatial structure with a unique design concept, which can be taken as the ideal prototype of the internal mechanical/conductive skeleton for the anode with large volume change. Herein, MnO nanoparticles are interlaced with a Hoberman sphere-like interconnected carbon nanotube (CNT) network via a facile self-assembly strategy in which MnO can "locally expand" in the CNT network, limit the volume expansion to the interior space, and maintain a stable outer surface of the hybrid particle. Furthermore, an ultrathin uniform ALD-coated TiO shell is adopted to stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), provide high electron conductivity and lithium ion (Li) diffusivity with lithiated LiTiO, and enhance the reaction kinetics of the MnO by an "electron-density enhancement effect". With this design, the MnO@CNT/TiO exhibits a high capacity of 1064 mAh g at 0.1 A g, a stable cycling stability over 200 cycles, a superior rate capability, and a commercial-level areal capacity of 4.9 mAh cm. In this way, a novel electrode design strategy is achieved by the Hoberman sphere-like CNT design along with the in situ porous formation, which can not only achieve a high-performance anode for LIBs but also can be widely adapted in a variety of advanced electrode materials for alkali metal ion batteries.