SnO2/carbon nanotube nanocomposites synthesized in supercritical fluids:: highly efficient materials for use as a chemical sensor and as the anode of a lithium-ion battery

SnO2/ multi- walled carbon nanotube ( MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared via oxidation of SnCl2 in a supercritical CO2 - methanol mixture containing MWCNTs. The as- prepared nanocomposites were characterized by means of x- ray diffraction, x- ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was indicated that SnO2 nanoparticles with size of 3 - 5 nm were uniformly and tightly decorated on the MWCNTs. The chemiluminescence characteristic to H2S and electrochemical performance of the as- prepared SnO2/ MWCNT composites were investigated. The SnO2/ MWCNT composites exhibited extremely high efficiency for detecting H2S, and also displayed good electrochemical performance as the anode material in a lithium- ion battery.