Mn-doped ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with enhanced performances as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Highlights: • Mn-doped ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Zn_0.96Mn_0.04Fe₂O₄ electrode shows the highest reversible capacity of 1157 mA h g⁻¹. • The Zn_0.96Mn_0.04Fe₂O₄ electrode shows promising cycling stability. - Abstract: Nanocrystalline Zn_1−xMn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1) have been successfully synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. The morphologies and electrochemical performance of Mn-doped ZnFe₂O₄ in various proportions were investigated at room temperature, respectively. The Zn_1−xMn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.04) electrode in the as-synthesized samples showed the highest specific capacity of 1547 mA h g⁻¹ and 1157 mA h g⁻¹ in the initial discharge/charge process, with a coulombic efficiency of 74.8%. Additionally, excellent cycling stability was performed with a 1214 mA h g⁻¹ capacity retention at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹ after 50 cycles. The corresponding mechanism was proposed which indicated that the Mn-doped ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles experienced an aggregation thermochemical reaction among ZnO, MnO and Fe₂O₃ subparticles