Natural‐Cellulose‐Derived Tin‐Nanoparticle/Carbon‐Nanofiber Composite as Anodic Material in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

A series of tin‐nanoparticle/carbon‐nanofiber composites with varied tin content were synthesized by employing natural cellulose (e.g., ordinary laboratory filter paper) as both the structural scaffold and carbon source. The nanocomposites were obtained through hydrogen reduction of nanofibrous tin‐oxide/carbon hybrids that were prepared by a self‐assembly technique based on the surface sol–gel process. The nanocomposite with 16 wt % tin content was composed of fine metallic tin nanocrystallites with sizes of 20–50 nm that were uniformly immobilized on the surface of the cellulose‐derived carbon nanofibers. When employed as an anodic material for lithium‐ion batteries, because of its unique three‐dimensionally hierarchical porous structures and the buffering effect of the carbon matrix, it showed a stable discharge capacity of ca. 430 mAh g−1 after 200 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1, which was close to the calculated theoretical capacity of the electrode. In addition, its structural stability upon extensive charge/discharge cycling processes is outstanding.

A Cellulose Derived Nanotubular MoO3/SnO2 Composite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties

“…As displayed in Figure c, the doublet peaks located at 235.7 and 232.5 eV with a spin energy of 3.2 eV are corresponding to the Mo(3d 3/2 ) and Mo(3d 5/2 ) signals of molybdenum in the hexavalent state, respectively. And the Sn(3d) spectrum shown in Figure d exhibits two peaks of Sn(3d 3/2 ) and Sn(3d 5/2 ) at 495.2 and 486.7 eV with a spin energy separation of 8.5 eV, which indicates the presence of Sn IV in this composite . These results validate the formation of the MoO 3 /SnO 2 composite, which are in good accordance with the XRD, Raman and HR‐TEM results mentioned above.…”

“…When the conversion reaction ends, the initial α ‐MoO 3 phase was converted into amorphous structure, leading to the smooth CV curves in the follow‐up cycles ,. During the anodic scan process, the oxidation peak at 0.64 V is attributed to the reversible delithiation process of the alloy, and the broad oxidation peak at 1.0−2.2 V is related to the formation of tin oxide and amorphous Li 2 MoO 3 . From the second cycle onwards, the cathodic peak appeared at 0.46 V is assigned to the conversion reaction of Li x MoO 3 to produce metallic Mo and Li 2 O.…”

“…As shown by Scheme and described in the experimental section in the Supporting Information, the filter paper derived nanotubular MoO 3 /SnO 2 composite was synthesized through the LbL self−assembly of charged PDDA/POM bi‐layers that deposited onto the SnO 2 ‐gel film pre‐coated cellulose nanofibers,, followed by calcination treatment in air. The as‐prepared MoO 3 /SnO 2 nanocomposite is composed of molybdenum trioxide nanocrystallites anchored as a thin layer on the tin oxide nanotube surface.…”

Natural Cellulose Derived Nanocomposites as Anodic Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…For example, a Sn‐nanoparticle/carbon‐nanofiber composite was prepared by using the natural cellulose substance as the structural template and source of the carbon nanofiber . The nanofibrous SnO 2 /carbon hybrid was firstly prepared, followed by hydrogen reduction treatment to produce the Sn/carbon nanocomposite.…”

“…For example, a Sn-nanoparticle/carbon-nanofiber composite was prepared by using the natural cellulose substance as the structural template and source of the carbon nanofiber. [42] The nanofibrous SnO 2 /carbon hybrid was firstly prepared, followed by hydrogen reduction treatment to produce the Sn/ carbon nanocomposite. The nanocomposite displayed a hierarchical porous structure that inherited from the initial natural cellulose, and it was composed of uniform Sn nanoparticles (sizes ca.…”