Solvent engineered synthesis of layered SnO for high-performance anodes

Batteries are the most abundant form of electrochemical energy storage. Lithium and sodium ion batteries account for a significant portion of the battery market, but high-performance electrochemically active materials still need to be discovered and optimized for these technologies. Recently, tin(II) oxide (SnO) has emerged as a highly promising battery electrode. In this work, we present a facile synthesis method to produce SnO microparticles whose size and shape can be tailored by changing the solvent nature. We study the complex relationship between wet-chemistry synthesis conditions and resulting layered nanoparticle morphology. Furthermore, high-level electronic structure theory, including dispersion corrections to account for van der Waals forces, is employed to enhance our understanding of the underlying chemical mechanisms. The electronic vacuum alignment and surface energies are determined, allowing the prediction of the thermodynamically favoured crystal shape (Wulff construction) and surface-weighted work function. Finally, the synthesized nanomaterials were tested as Li-ion battery anodes, demonstrating significantly enhanced electrochemical performance for morphologies obtained from specific synthesis conditions.

Automated summary

Batteries are the most common form of energy storage, with a need for high-performance electrochemically active materials for lithium and sodium ion batteries. Tin(II) oxide has emerged as a promising electrode material, with a study on tailoring size and shape of microparticles by changing solvent nature and understanding the complex relationship between wet-chemistry synthesis conditions and resulting nanoparticle morphology. High-level electronic structure theory is employed to enhance understanding of the underlying chemical mechanisms, allowing for the prediction of thermodynamically favored crystal shape and surface-weighted work function, leading to significantly enhanced electrochemical performance for specific synthesis conditions.