Pitaya-like Sn@C nanocomposites as high-rate and long-life anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In this article, we report on the preparation of the pitaya-like Sn@C nanocomposite with an aerosol spray pyrolysis and its application as a high-rate and long-life anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The structure and morphology analysis of the as-prepared Sn@C nanocomposite shows that Sn nanoparticles with a size of about 8 nm are homogeneously dispersed in the spherical carbon matrix (denoted as Sn8@C). The Sn8@C nanocomposite exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 1007.1 mA h g(-1) and maintains a reversible capacity of 910 mA h g(-1) after 180 cycles at 200 mA g(-1) (0.305 C). A capacity of 410 mA h g(-1) was obtained after 1000 cycles at 4000 mA g(-1) (6.1 C). Furthermore, the Sn8@C nanocomposite displays a charge-discharge capacity of 205.3 mA h g(-1) at 16 000 mA g(-1) (24.4 C). This high-rate performance is owing to the fact that the ultrasmall tin nanoparticles can effectively alleviate the absolute stress/strain during the lithiation/delithiation process and that the uniformly embedded nanoparticles in the stable carbon framework can accommodate the large volume change with a buffering effect to prevent Sn nanoparticles from aggregating.

Metallic Sn‐Based Anode Materials: Application in High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

“…People have varied the carbon precursors to produce the carbon matrix, including micromolecular organics,22, 26, 49, 50, 52, 56 polymer,6, 53, 57, 58, 59 saccharides,48, 51, 60, 61, 62 resins,55, 63, 64 graphene,65, 66, 67 etc. Derrien et al49 reported a synthesis of nano‐Sn (with a small amount of SnO 2 ) embedded in a carbon matrix.…”

“…A series of 0D Sn/C composites have been successfully prepared by this method 56, 58, 133. As shown in Figure 12 a,b, nano‐Sn homogeneously embedded in carbon nanosphere composites were synthesized using aerosol spray pyrolysis method 50.…”

Electrode Nanostructures in Lithium‐Based Batteries

“…These negative electrode materials (e.g., Si, Ge or Sn etc.) utilized the alloying or conversion reaction with Li + by breaking the bonds between the host atoms, thus enhanced the capacitive performance of electrode 13, 41, 42, 43. In terms of theoretical capacity the Si‐Li, Ge‐Li and Sn‐Li alloy brings capacities as high as 4200, 1623, 994 mAh g –1 , respectively but result in volume expansion up to 300% 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.…”

Inorganic & organic materials for rechargeable Li batteries with multi-electron reaction

“…Nevertheless, Sn is also plagued by large volume change. To maintain the structural stability, many Sn-based composites have been attempted [18,[60][61][62][63][64][65]. Our group prepared ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles with a particle size of ~5 nm homogenously embedded in N-doped porous carbon (5-Sn/C) by carbonizing the Sn (Salen) (Fig.…”