One-pot hydrothermal fabrication and enhanced lithium storage capability of SnO2 nanorods intertangled with carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectured ternary composite of SnO2 nanorods intertangled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets (SnO2/CNTs/Gr) was synthesized via one-pot template-free hydrothermal method and investigated as anode for lithium-ion batteries. Compared to bare SnO2 and corresponding binary composites including SnO2/CNTs and SnO2/Gr, SnO2/CNTs/Gr shows significantly improved cycling stability and rate performance. The initial discharge specific capacity of SnO2/CNTs/Gr is 1391 mAh g−1 and remains 522 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Meanwhile, the composite shows excellent rate reversibility. For example, 120 mAh g−1 can be retained at a high current density of up to 1600 mA g−1, and 582 mAh g−1 can still be retrieved once the current density is switched back to 50 mA g−1. The carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets in the composites play different enhancing effect. The significantly improved energy storage capability of SnO2/CNTs/Gr can be attributed to a synergistic effect of the intertangled CNTs and graphene nanosheets.