SnO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles for Lithium-Ion Batteries Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

Abstract

Nanostructured SnO2 is an attractive anode material for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries because of the fourfold higher theoretical charge capacity than commercially used graphite. However, the poor capacity retention at high rates and long-term cycling have intrinsically limited applications of nanostructured SnO2 anodes due to large polarization and ~300% volume change upon lithium insertion/extraction. Here we report the design of SnO2 nanoparticles, which are synthesized by sol-gel method, with an aim at overcome the above problems for the high-performance reversible lithium storage. The results showed that the mean sizes of SnO2 particles treated with 6 wt.% ammonia were less than 30 nm, which can store charge with a capacity density as high as ~1888 mAh/g. Even when the discharge rate was increased to 0.5 C, it still retained ~1017 mAh/g.