Facile electrochemical synthesis of heterostructured amorphous-Sn@CuxO nanowire anode for Li-ion batteries with high stability and rate-performance

Herein, we fabricate heterostructured copper oxide nanowires decorated with amorphous Sn by Cu anodization and Sn electrodeposition for a potential application as anode in Li-ion battery. In general, Sn experiences a pulverization caused by the stress from a severe volume change during the reaction with Li-ion. Therefore, the stress should be certainly mitigated. A nanowire with 1-D structure could be a candidate anode material because it accommodates the volume change and enlarges the surface area of electrode. Yet Sn nanowire still suffers the harsh stress, copper oxide is employed as an active anode material as well as a structural framework in the present study. By virtue of the Li-conversion mechanism of copper oxide, the as-prepared Sn-decorated copper oxide nanowire exhibits an improved discharge capacity and maintains it as high as 633.0 mAh g(-1) at extended cycles (77.7% of initial capacity at 150th cycle). From a rate capability experiment, the nanowire electrode presents the capacity of 424 mAh g(-1) at 16 C, and shows a moderate recovering ability. The 1-D heterogeneous structure and Cu nodes that are intentionally formed during electrochemical fabrication helps realizing a cell configuration without a binder and a conducing agent, which ultimately contributes to increase energy and power density of Li-ion battery.