Microwave-Assisted Preparation and Characterization of a Polyoxometalate-Based Inorganic 2D Framework Anode for Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Performance.

A pure inorganic 2D network molybdophosphate, [Mn3 Mo12 O24 (OH)6 (HPO3 )8 (H2 O)6 ]4- (1 a), synthesized through microwave irradiation with the existence of Mn2+ and organic cations and isolated as [(CH3 )2 NH2 ]3 Na[Mn3 Mo12 O24 (OH)6 (HPO3 )8 (H2 O)6 ]⋅12 H2 O (1), is found to possess highly enhanced performance in lithium-ion batteries' anode materials. The molecule shows multielectron redox properties suitable for producing anode materials with a specific capacity of 602 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 50 cycles in lithium-ion batteries, although its specific capacity is the highest among all the reported pure inorganic 2D polyoxometalates to date, the cyclic stability is not that satisfactory. A hybrid nanocomposite of this 2D network and polypyrrole cations effectively reduces the capacity fading in initial cycles, and increases the stability and improves the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries as well.