Mesoporous organo-silica nanoarray for energy storage media

A SnO2-mesoporous organo-silica nanoarray (MOSN) composite was prepared by surfactant mediated synthesis combined with a sol-gel vacuum suction method in which SnO2 has been successfully incorporated inside the periodic nanoholes in the MOSN or coated on its surface. The MOSN with a high aspect ratio of length to width could not only maintain its structure but also effectively accommodate the volume expansion of the SnO2 during electrochemical reactions with Li+. The SnO2-MOSN composite showed a higher reversible capacity of 420 mA h g(-1) with greatly improved capacity retention and lower initial irreversible capacity compared to SnO2 powder. This interesting anodic performance of SnO2-MOSN composite supports the potential use of MOSN for lithium ion batteries. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.