Graphene double protection strategy to improve the SnO2 electrode performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries

SnO2 is considered as one of the most promising anode material because of its high lithium storage capability. However, poor cycling performance caused by serious aggregation and considerable volume change upon cycling hampers its industrial application. In this paper, a simple synthesis route is demonstrated for the preparation of SnO2@graphene@graphene (SnO2@G@G) for Lithium ion battery applications. The graphene was initially treated using strong sonicate to form numerous highly dispersed small graphene nanosheets (SGNSs) in the solution. SnO2@graphene (SnO2@G) composite is obtained in the form of a nonwoven mat by electrospinning followed by calcination at 450 degrees C in air. SnO2@G@G composite was prepared by using a simple solution mixing method. The novel SnO2@G@G composite exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance as anode material for LIBs. Furthermore, this simple and efficient synthesis strategy is versatile and can be extended to fabrication of various types of composites between graphene and metal oxides which could be widely used in many fields, like transparent and flexibility electrode. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.