Three-dimensional porous aerogel assembly from ultrathin rGO@SnO2 nanosheets for advanced lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Engineering, 2022-02, Vol.231, p.109591, Article 109591
• Main Authors: Zhao, Hewei, Zeng, Xiaolong, Zheng, Tian, Liu, Shaojia, Yang, Jie, Hao, Rui, Li, Fengshi, Guo, Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2D nanosheets; 3D porous aerogels; Capacitive contribution; Energy storage; Long-cycle life
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109591

High capacity, ultra-fast charge/discharge rate, and long cycling life are external targets for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to satisfy modern energy storage, but it is still challenging to realize them simultaneously. Here, we report a three-dimensional (3D) porous rGO@SnO2 nanosheets aerogel (rGO@SnO2 NSA) based on in-situ growing two-dimensional (2D) SnO2 nanosheets on graphene oxide (GO@SnO2 NS), subsequent controllable assembly and reduction. The 2D structure of SnO2 can shorten the electron-transfer path, and the porous architecture of the 3D aerogel endows the aerogels with external ion-transfer channels and exceptional capacitive contribution. As a result, the LIBs using our 3D aerogels as anodes can endure ultrafast charge/discharge (10 A g−1) rate and exhibit ultra-long cycling life with a high energy density (512.1 mAh g−1 after 10,000 cycles). For application exploration, the LiFePO4/rGO@SnO2 NSA cell also possesses excellent energy storage performance (364.5 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles). Our electrode design strategy of combining 2D active materials and 3D porous architecture provides a new path to develop next-generation rechargeable energy storage devices. The rGO@SnO2 NSA based on in-situ growing two-dimensional (2D) SnO2 nanosheets on GO, subsequent controllable assembly and reduction realizes a combination of high capacity and long-term cycling performance even at ultrahigh current density when used as anodes in LIBs, which have rarely been achieved in previous reports. This aerogel shows great potential in applications of LIBs to obtain stable and long-term fast charge/discharge. [Display omitted] •3D porous aerogels assembly based on rGO and ultrathin SnO2 nanosheets achieve high content of SnO2 and fully help SnO2 nanosheets to fit the 3D porous architecture.•Excellent capacity and long-cycling performances at 10 A g-1 with long cycling life (10000 cycles).•Unique construction contributes to superior capacitive contribution and the stability of the structure of the electrode during the high-rate charge/discharge.