A Cellulose Derived Nanotubular MoO3/SnO2 Composite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties

A hierarchically nanotubular MoO3/SnO2 composite was synthesized based on the layer-by-layer self-assemble process followed by a calcination treatment, employing natural cellulose substance (commercial filter paper) as structural scaffold. This nanocomposite is composed of molybdenum trioxide nanocrystallites immobilized as a thin layer on the tin oxide nanotube surface. As being utilized as a host material for lithium storage, the MoO3/SnO2 nanocomposite exhibited high reversible specific capacity, good cyclability and enhanced rate performance as compared with the pure SnO2 and MoO3 counter materials. For the nanotubular MoO3/SnO2 composite with 48.9 wt% MoO3 content, it delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1930.6 mAh g(-1) and a stable specific capacity of 1084.1 mAh g(-1) after 100 discharge/charge cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1). The excellent lithium storage performance of the MoO3/SnO2 composite is benefited from the sophisticated hierarchically three-dimensional network structures and the synergistic interaction between MoO3 and SnO2 components upon repeated lithiation/delithiation processes.