Sn-C bonding anchored SnSe nanoparticles grown on carbon nanotubes for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

Abstract Building Chemical bonds is an effective strategy to obtain excellent performance of electrode materials. Herein, we report SnSe nanoparticles growth on carbon nanotubes (SnSe-CNTs) composite with strong Sn C bonding for high performance LIBs anode. The composite electrode exhibits high reversible capacity of 772 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g−1. Even under higher current density of 1 A g−1, the capacity of composite electrode still maintains 323 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles, the capacity retention rate is as high as 69.5%. It is found that strong electronic coupling between SnSe nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes conducive to the rapid transmission of electron/ion, facilitating the reversible conversion reaction between Sn and Li2Se to form SnSe. Meanwhile, Sn C bonding significantly improved structural stability of SnSe nanoparticles growth on carbon nanotubes composites electrode. These encouraging results of chemical bonding provide new opportunities for designing advanced electrode materials.