Highly porous Ti/SnO 2 network composite film as stable binder-free anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

• A 3D porous Ti/SnO 2 network film was designed and prepared. • The 3D network composites consists of Ti core and SnO 2 shell. • The 3D network film shows promising capacity and enhanced cycling performance. Electrodes with three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure are expected to improve the energy and power densities of lithium ion batteries. Herein, we report a 3D porous Ti/SnO 2 nanocomposite which was prepared by a novel experimental procedure combining the dealloying technique and hydrothermal treatment. Its structure and electrochemical properties were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests. The results of electrochemical tests showed that the porous composite anode presented the largest reversible capacity of 616.0 mA h g −1 at the first cycle; and it still delivered a reversible Li storage capacity of 432.5 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. Our work suggests the possibility of further improving the specific capacity/energy density of 3D microelectrodes by designing ordered hybrid nanostructure arrays.