Hydrothermal Realization of a Hierarchical, Flowerlike MnWO 4 @MWCNTs Nanocomposite with Enhanced Reversible Li Storage as a New Anode Material

A phase‐pure MnWO 4 ‐based nanocomposite, MnWO 4 @MWCNTs (MWCNTs=multiwalled carbon nanotubes ), was successfully synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C by adjusting the pH of the precursor medium. The resulting nanocomposite maintains the original flowerlike morphology of MnWO 4 with hierarchical structures composed of numerous single‐crystalline nanorods that drive growth preferentially along the [001] direction. The growth mechanism for the flowerlike formations is also discussed. In addition, the Li electroactivity of pure MnWO 4 and MnWO 4 @MWCNTs electrodes was investigated. As an anode for Li‐ion batteries, the MnWO 4 @MWCNTs nanocomposite showed enhanced electrochemical performance in reversible Li storage relative to that shown by bare MnWO 4 electrodes, including a high capacity of 425 mAh g −1 and superior rate performance. This performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the nanocomposite combined with the MWCNTs, which provide efficient electron transport in their role as a conductor.