SnO2 nanotube arrays embedded in a carbon layer for high-performance lithium-ion battery applications

A facile strategy for preparing one-dimensional (1D) SnO2 nanotube arrays embedded in a carbon layer (C-SnO2 NTs) has been developed via a sol-gel method using polycarbonate (PC) as a template. The introduction of a carbon layer (carbonized from a PC membrane) at the top of SnO2 nanotube arrays results in the SnO2 nanotubes standing on the current collector and preserving their 1D structure without aggregation between each other, which enables their direct application to the anode of lithium-ion batteries. The binder- and carbon-free C-SnO2 NTs as a self-supporting anode exhibits a stable and high reversible capacity of 500 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1) after 40 cycles. The improved Li ion storage and stable capability are attributed to the 1D hollow structure, alleviating the large volume changes of SnO2 and enhancing electron and Li ion diffusion transport in the nanotubes.