SnO 2 /graphene oxide composite material with high rate performance applied in lithium storage capacity

Engineering a hierarchical reduced graphene oxide and lignosulfonate derived carbon framework supported tin dioxide nanocomposite for lithium-ion storage

Tin dioxide (SnO2) is widely recognized as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries. To simultaneously achieve satisfactory electrochemical performances and lower manufacturing costs, engineering nano-sized SnO2 and further immobilizing SnO2 with supportive carbon frameworks via eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches are challenging tasks. In this work, biomass sodium lignosulfonate (LS-Na), stannous chloride (SnCl2) and a small amount of few-layered graphene oxide (GO) are employed as raw materials to engineer a hierarchical carbon framework supported SnO2 nanocomposite. The spontaneous chelation reaction between LS-Na and SnCl2 under mild hydrothermal condition generates the corresponding SnCl2@LS sample with a uniform distribution of Sn2+ in the LS domains, and the SnCl2@LS sample is further dispersed by GO sheets via a redox coprecipitation reaction. After a thermal treatment, the SnCl2@LS@GO sample is converted to the final SnO2/LSC/RGO sample with an improved microstructure. The SnO2/LSC/RGO nanocomposite exhibits excellent lithium-ion storage performances with a high specific capacity of 938.3 mAh/g after 600 cycles at 1000 mA g-1 in half-cells and 517.1 mAh/g after 50 cycles at 200 mA g-1 in full-cells. This work provides a potential strategy of engineering biomass derived high-performance electrode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Chitosan modulated engineer tin dioxide nanoparticles well dispersed by reduced graphene oxide for high and stable lithium-ion storage

Tin based materials are widely investigated as a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Effectively dispersing SnO₂ nanocrystals in carbonaceous supporting skeleton using simplified methods is both promising and challenging. In this work, water soluble chitosan (CS) chains are employed to modulate the redox coprecipitation reaction between stannous chloride (SnCl₂) and few-layered graphene oxide (GO), where the excessive restacking of the corresponding reduced graphene oxide sheets (RGO) has been effectively inhibited and the grain size of the in-situ formed SnO₂ nanoparticles have been significantly controlled. In particular, the CS molecules are gradually detached from the RGO sheets with the GO deoxygenation process, leaving only a small quantity of CS remnants in the intermediate SnO₂@CS@RGO sample. The final SnO₂/CSC/RGO sample with significantly improved microstructure is synthesized after a simple thermal treatment, which delivers a high specific capacity of 842.9 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA·g^-1 for 1000 cycles in half cells and a specific capacity of 410.5 mAh g^-1 at 200 mA·g^-1 for 100 cycles in full cells. The reasons for the good lithium-ion storage performances for the SnO₂/CSC/RGO composite have been studied.

A Facile Microwave Hydrothermal Method for Fabricating SnO2@C/Graphene Composite With Enhanced Lithium Ion Storage Properties

SnO₂@C/graphene ternary composite material has been prepared via a double-layer modified strategy of carbon layer and graphene sheets. The size, dispersity, and coating layer of SnO₂@C are uniform. The SnO₂@C/graphene has a typical porous structure. The discharge and charge capacities of the initial cycle for SnO₂@C/graphene are 2,210 mAh g⁻¹ and 1,285 mAh g⁻¹, respectively, at a current density of 1,000 mA g⁻¹. The Coulombic efficiency is 58.60%. The reversible specific capacity of the SnO₂@C/graphene anode is 955 mAh g⁻¹ after 300 cycles. The average reversible specific capacity still maintains 572 mAh g⁻¹ even at the high current density of 5 A g⁻¹. In addition, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are performed to further investigate the prepared SnO₂@C/graphene composite material by a microwave hydrothermal method. As a result, SnO₂@C/graphene has demonstrated a better electrochemical performance.

A gradient Sn4+@Sn2+ core@shell structure induced by a strong metal oxide–support interaction for enhanced CO2 electroreduction

A gradient Sn4+@Sn2+ core@shell structure induced by a strong tin oxide–g-C3N4 support interaction enhanced the adsorption and stabilization of CO2˙−, and hence the CO2RR performances.

Direct Detection and Visualization of the H+ Reaction Process in a VO2 Cathode for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Because they are safer and less costly than state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have been attracting more attention in stationary energy storage and industrial energy storage. However, the electrochemical reaction of H⁺ in all of the cathode materials of AZIBs has been puzzling until now. Herein, highly oriented VO₂ monocrystals grown on a Ti current collector (VO₂-Ti) were rationally designed as the research model, and such a well-aligned VO₂ cathode also displayed excellent zinc-ion storage capability (e.g., a reversible capacity of 148.4 mAh/g at a current density of 2 A/g). To visualize the H⁺ reaction process, we used time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry. With the benefit of such a binder-free and conductor-free electrode design, a clear and intuitive reaction of H⁺ in a VO₂ cathode is obtained, which is quite significant for unraveling the accurate reaction mechanism of VO₂ in AZIBs.

Carbon-coated SnO2 riveted on a reduced graphene oxide composite (C@SnO2/RGO) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The research on graphene-based anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been prevalent in recent years. In the present work, carbon-coated SnO₂ riveted on a reduced graphene oxide sheet composite (C@SnO₂/RGO) was fabricated using GO solution, SnCl₄, and glucose via a hydrothermal method after heat treatment. When the composite was exploited as an anode material for LIBs, the electrodes were found to exhibit a stable reversible discharge capacity of 843 mA h g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ after 100 cycles with 99.5% coulombic efficiency (CE), and a specific capacity of 485 mA h g⁻¹ at 1000 mA g⁻¹ after 200 cycles; these values were higher than those for a sample without glucose (SnO₂/RGO) and a pure SnO₂ sample. The favourable electrochemical performances of the C@SnO₂/RGO electrodes may be attributed to the special double-carbon structure of the composite, which can effectively suppress the volume expansion of SnO₂ nanoparticles and facilitate the transfer rates of Li⁺ and electrons during the charge/discharge process.

The combined action of GO and glucose makes the SnO₂ dispersed uniformly. The synergistic effect of the unique double-carbon structure can effectively improve the electrical conductivity of the SnO₂ and strengthen lithium storage capability.

Synthesis of Au/SnO2 nanostructures allowing process variable control

Theoretical advances in science are inherently time-consuming to realise in engineering, since their practical application is hindered by the inability to follow the theoretical essence. Herein, we propose a new method to freely control the time, cost, and process variables in the fabrication of a hybrid featuring Au nanoparticles on a pre-formed SnO₂ nanostructure. The above advantages, which were divided into six categories, are proven to be superior to those achieved elsewhere, and the obtained results are found to be applicable to the synthesis and functionalisation of other nanostructures. Furthermore, the reduction of the time-gap between science and engineering is expected to promote the practical applications of numerous scientific theories.

Tin Oxide Based Nanomaterials and Their Application as Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries and Beyond

Herein, recent progress in the field of tin oxide (SnO2 )-based nanosized and nanostructured materials as conversion and alloying/dealloying-type anodes in lithium-ion batteries and beyond (sodium- and potassium-ion batteries) is briefly discussed. The first section addresses the importance of the initial SnO2 micro- and nanostructure on the conversion and alloying/dealloying reaction upon lithiation and its impact on the microstructure and cyclability of the anodes. A further section is dedicated to recent advances in the fabrication of diverse 0D to 3D nanostructures to overcome stability issues induced by large volume changes during cycling. Additionally, the role of doping on conductivity and synergistic effects of redox-active and -inactive dopants on the reversible lithium-storage capacity and rate capability are discussed. Furthermore, the synthesis and electrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO2 /C composites are reviewed. The broad research spectrum of SnO2 anode materials is finally reflected in a brief overview of recent work published on Na- and K-ion batteries.

In-situ Grown SnO2 Nanospheres on Reduced GO Nanosheets as Advanced Anodes for Lithium-ion Batteries

Nanostructured tin dioxide (SnO2) has emerged as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity (1494 mA h g-1) and excellent stability. Unfortunately, the rapid capacity fading and poor electrical conductivity of bulk SnO2 material restrict its practical application. Here, SnO2 nanospheres/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (SRG) are fabricated through in-situ growth of carbon-coated SnO2 using template-based approach. The nanosheet structure with the external layer of about several nanometers thickness can not only accommodate the volume change of Sn lattice during cycling but also enhance the electrical conductivity effectively. Benefited from such design, the SRG composites could deliver an initial discharge capacity of 1212.3 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, outstanding cycling performance of 1335.6 mA h g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1, and superior rate capability of 502.1 mA h g-1 at 5 A g-1 after 10 cycles. Finally, it is believed that this method could provide a versatile and effective process to prepare other metal-oxide/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) 2D nanocomposites.

An effective route for manufacturing a mushroom-derived carbon/SnO2/C functional composite

Biomass materials have attracted much attention among functional composites, due to the unique bio-mesopore structure as well as the excellent environmentally friendly and electrochemical properties.