Interconnected SnO2/graphene+CNT network as high performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

As a metal oxide with a high theoretical capacity, SnO2 is considered to be one of the promising alternative anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. However, the pulverization of electrodes caused by the large volume expansion of SnO2 during repeated charge/discharge hinders its practical application. Here, SnO2 nanoparticles decorated on a 3D carbon network structure formed by the interconnection of graphene and CNT (SnO2/G + CNT), which is designed and successfully synthesized via in situ chemical synthesis and thermal treatment. In this structure, the SnO2 with nanosized can increase energy storage points and decrease the ions transport length, the carbon network can build a high conductive network that facilitates electron transport and alleviate the volume expansion to prevent electrode pulverization. In addition, graphene has a high specific surface area effect that facilitates lithium-ion storage, and the CNT also supports the graphene frame to make the carbon skeleton structure more stable, and provides a large number of ion transport channels, increasing the active sites of the reaction. Due to this excellent structure with synergistic effects, the SnO2/G + CNT electrode exhibits superior reversible capacity (1227.2 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 200 cycles), superior rate capacity (549.3 mAh g-1 at 3.0 A g-1) and long cycle stability (1630.1 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 after 1000 cycles).

Automated summary

In this study, a SnO2 nanoparticle-decorated 3D carbon network structure was successfully designed and synthesized, which showed improved reversible capacity, rate capacity, and cycle stability.