Polyacrylonitrile-Based Activated Carbon Fiber/SnO₂Composites via Different Synthetic Methods

Abstract

Polyacrylonitrile-based activated carbon fiber (PAN-ACF)/SnO2 composites were synthesized by sol-gel and in-situ chemical synthesis method, respectively, and characterized by XRD, TGA, and SEM. The electrochemical properties of the resultant composites as negative electrodes in lithium-ion battery were also studied to investage the influence of different synthetic methods on the structure and electrochemical properties of the composites. The results show that the SnO2 in the composites prepared by both methods has a tetragonal rutile structure but the structure and electrochemical properties are different. With the similar composition, the composites prepared by in-situ method have uniform distribution of SnO2 particles, and exhibit better cyclic performance than those made by sol-gel method. The capacity of PAN-ACF/SnO2 composites with SnO2 content of 42.9% prepared by in-situ method remains 401.2 mAh g-1 after 50 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 50 mAh g-1.

Effect of hybridization on the value-added activated carbon materials

“…The AC/SnO 2 was then texturally characterized by N 2 adsorption at -196°C, mercury porosimetry, and density measurement. It was found that the macro-meso and microporosity of AC/SnO 2 composites is significantly greater than the parent AC or SnCl [139]. It was also confirmed that by heating it to 850°C, the pore size distribution of AC/SnO 2 composites becomes uniform within the three porous regions.…”