Batteries
capable of quick charging as fast as fossil fuel vehicles
are becoming a vital issue in the electric vehicle market. However,
conversion-type materials promising as a next-generation anode have
many problems to satisfy fast charging and long-term cycles due to
their low conductivity and large irreversibility despite a high theoretical
capacity. Here, we report effective strategies for a SnO2-based anode to enable rapid-charging, long-cycle, and high reversible
capacity. The quantum size of SnO2 nanoparticles uniformly
embedded within a 3D conductive carbon matrix as a prerequisite for
high reversible capacity increases the interdiffusion layer and facilitates
a highly reversible conversion reaction between Li2O/Sn
and SnO2. In particular, the Sn–C chemical bond
achieves ion-site control and direct electron transfer, enabling boost
charging. Further, the robust and porous structure of the binder-free
three-dimensional electrode buffers the massive volume expansion during
Li insertion/desertion and allows for multidimensional rapid-ion diffusion.
As a result, our quantum SnO2 anode delivers a high reversible
capacity of about 753 mAh g–1 with a 468% capacity
increase after 4000 cycles at 10 C. It also presents a gradually increasing
capacity up to 548 mAh g–1 even at 20 C and superior
cyclability over 20 000 cycles in capacity stabilization. This
study will contribute to designing aerofilm-based conversion-type
electrodes for fast charging devices.