Binder-free and self-supported reduced graphene oxide coated Cu2SnS3/Carbon nanofibers for superior lithium storage

Abstract

Abstract To utilize the nanomaterials that could be mass manufactured for energy storage, a self-supported reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated Cu2SnS3 (CTS)/carbon nanofiber (CNF) electrode is fabricated by the facile gelation-solvothermal-electrodeposition method, and applied in lithium-ion batteries without a binder or conductive agent. Compared with the CTS microtubes synthesized from their complex template, the CTS nanoparticles in the rGO@CTS/CNF film are anchored on the CNF surface and surrounded by the conformal rGO with varying spacings. The whole self-supported rGO@CTS/CNF electrode (including the CNF and rGO) delivers an initial capacity of 678.8 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and retains at 464.2 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, which is superior to those of the pristine CTS microtubes and the uncoated CTS/CNF electrodes.