Cooperative enhancement of capacities in nanostructured SnSb/carbon nanotube network nanocomposite as anode for lithium ion batteries

SnSb-carbon nanotube nanocomposites are prepared by mixing melt-spun nanocrystalline SnSb with carbon nanotubes. The composite with 10 wt% acid functionalized CNTs shows a good initial Coulombic efficiency of 79% and a reversible capacity of 860 mAhg(-1) during the 40th cycle at a current density of 160 mAg(-1). Apart from that, the composite also shows promising capacities at high Crates. The enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effect between the nanocrystalline SnSb alloy and the CNT scaffold, which buffers the pulverization process and facilitates fast lithium ions diffusion. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.