One-pot hydrothermal fabrication and enhanced lithium storage capability of SnO.sub.2 nanorods intertangled with carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2018-06, Vol.53 (12), p.9206
• Main Authors: Xie, Qinxing, Zhu, Yating, Zhao, Peng, Zhang, Yufeng, Wu, Shihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Comparative analysis; Graphene; Graphite; Nanotubes
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-018-2224-5

A three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectured ternary composite of SnO.sub.2 nanorods intertangled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets (SnO.sub.2/CNTs/Gr) was synthesized via one-pot template-free hydrothermal method and investigated as anode for lithium-ion batteries. Compared to bare SnO.sub.2 and corresponding binary composites including SnO.sub.2/CNTs and SnO.sub.2/Gr, SnO.sub.2/CNTs/Gr shows significantly improved cycling stability and rate performance. The initial discharge specific capacity of SnO.sub.2/CNTs/Gr is 1391 mAh g.sup.-1 and remains 522 mAh g.sup.-1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g.sup.-1. Meanwhile, the composite shows excellent rate reversibility. For example, 120 mAh g.sup.-1 can be retained at a high current density of up to 1600 mA g.sup.-1, and 582 mAh g.sup.-1 can still be retrieved once the current density is switched back to 50 mA g.sup.-1. The carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets in the composites play different enhancing effect. The significantly improved energy storage capability of SnO.sub.2/CNTs/Gr can be attributed to a synergistic effect of the intertangled CNTs and graphene nanosheets.