Enhanced Cyclic Performance and Lithium Storage Capacity of SnO₂/Graphene Nanoporous Electrodes with Three-Dimensionally Delaminated Flexible Structure

Abstract

To fabricate nanoporous electrode materials with delaminated structure, the graphene nanosheets (GNS) in the ethylene glycol solution were reassembled in the presence of rutile SnO(2) nanoparticles. According to the TEM analysis, the graphene nanosheets are homogeneously distributed between the loosely packed SnO(2) nanoparticles in such a way that the nanoporous structure with a large amount of void spaces could be prepared. The obtained SnO(2)/GNS exhibits a reversible capacity of 810 mAh/g; furthermore, its cycling performance is drastically enhanced in comparison with that of the bare SnO(2) nanoparticle. After 30 cycles, the charge capacity of SnO(2)/GNS still remained 570 mAh/g, that is, about 70% retention of the reversible capacity, while the specific capacity of the bare SnO(2) nanoparticle on the first charge was 550 mAh/g, dropping rapidly to 60 mAh/g only after 15 cycles. The dimensional confinement of tin oxide nanoparticles by the surrounding GNS limits the volume expansion upon lithium insertion, and the developed pores between SnO(2) and GNS could be used as buffered spaces during charge/discharge, resulting in the superior cyclic performances.

Critical Insight into the Relentless Progression Toward Graphene and Graphene‐Containing Materials for Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes

“…[ 108,109 ] In these research efforts, G. Wang et al synthesized two different graphene-based composites. The fi rst, [ 108 ] with a 40 wt% SnO 2 content, showed performance comparable with the results previously obtained by I. Honma et al [ 32 ] In the second, [ 109 ] aiming to avoid the conversion reaction during the fi rst lithiation, SnO 2 was simultaneously reduced with GO to obtain a RGO/Sn composite. Unfortunately, despite a reduction of the 1 st cycle irreversible capacity to 35%, this composite showed the same issues of poor cycling stability and poor Coulombic effi ciency.…”

“…[32][33][34][35][36] In these papers, the rather poor reversibility and the limited number of cycles verifi ed the drawbacks initially observed by I. Honma. [ 28 ] Specifi cally, Z. Jiao et al [ 34 ] correlated the sensitivity of RGO's Li + storage properties to the method of GO reduction employed (i.e., thermal reduction in N 2 at different temperatures, chemical reduction with hydrazine and electron beam irradiation, see Table 1 ).…”

“…At the beginning of 2009, I. Honma et al [ 32 ] proposed a hybrid electrode material including RGO and SnO 2 nanoparticles. Besides providing additional sites for Li-ion storage, RGO was expected to enhance the cycling stability of tin oxide by containing its volume expansion upon lithiation.…”

SnO2/graphene composite with high lithium storage capability for lithium rechargeable batteries

“…While graphite, which is used as an anode material in current lithium rechargeable batteries, has served as a reliable electrode due to its low operating voltage and good cyclability, its low specific capacity of about 372 mA·h·g -1 hinders the adoption of lithium batteries in new applications such as electric vehicles and large scale energy storage units, which demand higher levels of energy and power density. Therefore, many researchers have focused on exploring new anode materials with higher energy and power density than existing electrodes [4][5][6][7][8]. Of these, elements such as Si and Sn that alloy with Li are attractive candidates for replacing graphite due to their exceptionally high theoretical capacities [9][10][11][12].…”

Advanced High Energy Density Secondary Batteries with Multi‐Electron Reaction Materials

“…Nanostructured SnO 2 /carbon composites have been extensively studied. These composites not only accommodate the volume change and protect the SnO 2 from aggregation and pulverization, but also enhance the electronic conductivity of overall electrode 147, 156. For example, an amorphous carbon‐coated SnO 2 ‐electrodeposited porous carbon nanofiber (PCNF@SnO 2 @C) composite was introduced as a sodium‐ion battery anode material.…”