Enhanced lithium/sodium storage of SnO2/Graphene aerogels nanocomposites

Abstract

SnO2/graphene aerogels (SnO2/GAs) nanocomposites are fabricated via a cost-efficient hydrothermal and large-scalable strategy. In present study, SnO2 nanoparticles possessing various contents are loaded onto the surface of GAs to optimize the electrochemical activity of nanocomposite systems as anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). SEM and TEM characterizations obviously show SnO2 nanoparticles with the diameter of 5–8 nm are dispersed homogeneously on GAs through present synthetic process. Remarkably, the optimized SnO2/GAs demonstrates excellent cycling performance and stability as a LIB anode while delivering discharge capacity of 935 mAh g−1 upon 350 cycles at 100 mA g−1, accounting for 98.8% of the 2nd reversible capacity. Moreover, as for SIB, SnO2/GAs anode can deliver a discharge capacity of 274 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 100 cycles, which is 91.3% of the reversible capacity in the second cycle. The outstanding electrochemical stability benefits from synergistic effects of SnO2 nanoparticles as well as GAs matrix offering large surface area. Hence, consideration of superior electrochemical property and high yield, the SnO2/GAs nanocomposite presents a great potential for the electrochemical energy storage.