MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDY OF HOLLANDITE-TYPE MNO2 NANO-FIBERS

A new morphology of manganese oxide in the form of nano-fibers was syn thesized using a novel synthetic route, and structurally characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The obtained manganese oxide, doped with potassium, adopts a hollandite-type struct ure with ''few useful defects'' which provide an open tunneled structu re in three-dimensions. This characteristic is actually believed to im prove, to a high extent, the ionic conductivity of the material and ex hibits the doped hollandite-type manganese oxide as a highly promising candidate for electrochemical applications such as rechargeable batte ries. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.