In-situ electrocoversion-carbonization of metal chlorides

Transition metal oxides (such as Co3O4 and Mn3O4) have become a focal point of battery material research due to their high specific capacity. Previous studies have shown that transition metal chlorides can be used to prepare metal oxides (TMOs) through electroconversion in aqueous solutions. However, in industry, TMOs are typically prepared by thermally decomposing metal hydroxides or carbonates (TMCs) precursors. TMCs, in particular, are lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode materials with high specific capacity and initial Coulombic efficiency. In this paper, we aim to further investigate the electroconversion process by introducing CO2 directly into the catholyte. Our goal is to determine whether CO2 can be converted into TMCs without the need for a surfactant. Through our research, we successfully obtained monodisperse cubic particles of MnCO3 with regular shapes and edges measuring approximately 300 nm. As an anode material for LIBs, MnCO3 exhibits a higher capacity than graphite and demonstrates good capacity retention. Additionally, the use of submicron MnCO3 as an anode material could potentially replace other more toxic and expensive options currently utilized in commercial LIBs products.