Phase-tailored synthesis of tin oxide-graphene nanocomposites for anodes and their enhanced lithium-ion battery performance

We report a tailored synthesis of tin oxide-graphene nanocomposites with variety in oxide phase structure and composition through the control of oxidation-reduction hydrothermal reaction between graphene oxide and Sn2+. The amount ratio of graphene oxide to SnCl2 is critical to achieve either SnO/SnO2-graphene or pure SnO2-graphene composites, which are electrochemically evaluated as the anode materials in lithium ion batteries. It is found that the phase structure and composition play a key role in the lithium ion storage ability. A superior cycling performance is obtained when the nanocomposites exist in pure SnO2-graphene (mass percentage of SnO2: 68%) after 90 cycles, with a reversible capacity of 525 mA h g(-1) and an ultra-low capacity loss of similar to 0.3% per cycle. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.