Facilely transforming bulk materials to SnO/pristine graphene 2D-2D heterostructures for stable and fast lithium storage

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2020-01, Vol.812, p.152114, Article 152114
• Main Authors: Jiang, Pinxian, Jing, Jialun, Wang, Yizhe, Li, Hongju, He, Xiaoying, Chen, Yungui, Liu, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2D-materials; Dimensionally stable anodes; Electrode materials; Graphene; Heterostructures; Ion storage; Liquid phase exfoliation (LPE); Lithium; Lithium ion batteries (LIBs); Lithium-ion batteries; Nanostructure; Pristine graphene; Rechargeable batteries; Thickness; Tin oxide (SnO); Tin oxides
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.152114

Two-dimensional (2D) nano-structured tin monoxide (SnO) offers fascinating possibilities as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). 2D architectures of SnO are highly desirable to access advanced lithium storage properties however their application is impeded by the lack of synthetic method. In this study, we report a scalable synthetic route to facilely deriving SnO/pristine-graphene (p-G) 2D-2D heterostructure from bulk SnO and graphite. A “top-down” synthetic method was found effective in transforming SnO micro-sized particles into nanosheets down to a few nanometers in thickness. Assembled with pristine graphene (p-G), the SnO nanosheets were used to build a SnO/p-G heterostructure that delivers remarkable Li-ion storage performances: reversible capacities of 633.9 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.05 A g−1, and excellent cycling stabilities (0.027% capacity fade per cycle at 1 A g−1 after 700 cycles) were obtained. In comparison, raw SnO exhibited severe SEI over-growth and continuous capacity decay from the on-set at 0.05 A g−1. The structural advantages of 2D-2D heterostructure were elucidated to understand its exceptional lithium storage properties. This study demonstrates a facile and scalable strategy for producing 2D-2D heterostructures from low-cost bulk materials for LIBs application. [Display omitted] •Tin monoxide (SnO) 2D-nanosheets were facilely synthesized by exfoliating bulk SnO particles.•A SnO-pristine graphene (SnO/p-G) super-lattice like heterostructure was constructed.•SnO/p-G heterostructure exhibits exceptionally fast and reversible lithium storage property.