Graphene encapsulated Mn2SnO4/G nanocubes as high-capacity and cycle-stable anode material for sodium ion batteries

Abstract

The study exploits the functional advantages of combining alloy and conversion based material to reap the maximum energy from tin based ternary Mn2SnO4 (MSO) composite containing graphene. Herein, we specifically designed porous Mn2SnO4 nanocubes with graphene via a simple and scalable hydrothermal approach and explored as an anode material for sodium battery applications, for the first time. Our exclusively designed architecture provides the structural and cycling stability of Mn2SnO4/Graphene (MSO/G) nanocubes anode by effectively accommodating the volume changes during cycling through porous nature of Mn2SnO4 nanocubes and with the effective wrapping of graphene sheets. As a result, Mn2SnO4/G nanocubes anode delivers an appreciable stable capacity of 257 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles with 94% capacity retention. Interestingly, a capacity of 106 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 is obtained up to 1000 cycles with a negligible capacity fade. Porous nanocubes driven volume expansion free charge/discharge characteristics, conducting graphene aided capacity advantages upon extended cycles and manganese offered viability on cost economics, synergistically qualify the chosen Mn2SnO4/G anode for its deployment as a potential candidate in sodium ion batteries.