Solvent-Free Synthesis of Uniform MOF Shell-Derived Carbon Confined SnO2/Co Nanocubes for Highly Reversible Lithium Storage

Tin dioxide (SnO2) has attracted much attention in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its abundant source, low cost, and high theoretical capacity. However, the large volume variation, irreversible conversion reaction limit its further practical application in next-generation LIBs. Here, a novel solvent-free approach to construct uniform metal-organic framework (MOF) shell-derived carbon confined SnO2/Co (SnO2/Co@C) nanocubes via a two-step heat treatment is developed. In particular, MOF-coated CoSnO3 hollow nanocubes are for the first time synthesized as the intermediate product by an extremely simple thermal solid-phase reaction, which is further developed as a general strategy to successfully obtain other uniform MOF-coated metal oxides. The as-synthesized SnO2/Co@C nanocubes, when tested as LIB anodes, exhibit a highly reversible discharge capacity of 800 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 200 mA g(-1) and excellent cycling stability with a retained capacity of 400 mAh g(-1) after 1800 cycles at 5 A g(-1). The experimental analyses demonstrate that these excellent performances are mainly ascribed to the delicate structure and a synergistic effect between Co and SnO2. This facile synthetic approach will greatly contribute to the development of functional metal oxide-based and MOF-assisted nanostructures in many frontier applications.