Synthesis of tin(IV) oxide@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with superior electrochemical behaviors for lithium-ions batteries

Controlled Prelithiation of SnO2/C Nanocomposite Anodes for Building Full Lithium-Ion Batteries

SnO₂ is an attractive anodic material for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its low electronic conductivity and large volume change in lithiation/delithiation lead to a poor rate/cycling performance. Moreover, the initial Coulombic efficiencies (CEs) of SnO₂ anodes are usually too low to build practical full LIBs. Herein, a two-step hydrothermal synthesis and pyrolysis method is used to prepare a SnO₂/C nanocomposite, in which aggregated SnO₂ nanosheets and a carbon network are well-interpenetrated with each other. The SnO₂/C nanocomposite exhibits a good rate/cycling performance in half-cell tests but still shows a low initial CE of 45%. To overcome this shortage and realize its application in a full-cell assembly, the SnO₂/C anode is controllably prelithiated by the lithium-biphenyl reagent and then coupled with a LiCoO₂ cathode. The resulting full LIB displays a high capacity of over 98 mAh g^-1_LCO in 300 cycles at 1 C rate.

Preparation of cobalt sulfide@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with outstanding electrochemical behavior for lithium-ion batteries

Cobalt sulfide@reduced graphene oxide composites were prepared through a simple solvothermal method. The cobalt sulfide@reduced graphene oxide composites are composed of cobalt sulfide nanoparticles uniformly attached on both sides of reduced graphene oxide. Some favorable electrochemical performances in specific capacity, cycling performance, and rate capability are achieved using the porous nanocomposites as an anode for lithium-ion batteries. In a half-cell, it exhibits a high specific capacity of 1253.9 mA h g-1 at 500 mA g-1 after 100 cycles. A full cell consists of the cobalt sulfide@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite anode and a commercial LiCoO2 cathode, and is able to hold a high capacity of 574.7 mA h g-1 at 200 mA g-1 after 200 cycles. The reduced graphene oxide plays a key role in enhancing the electrical conductivity of the electrode materials; and it effectively prevents the cobalt sulfide nanoparticles from dropping off the electrode and buffers the volume variation during the discharge-charge process. The cobalt sulfide@reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites present great potential to be a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Fabrication of an antimony doped tin oxide–graphene nanocomposite for highly effective capacitive deionization of saline water

In this study, antimony doped tin oxide loaded reduced graphene oxide (ATO–RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach. As a typical N-type semiconductor, the ATO in the composite can enhance the conductivity between graphene sheets, thus improving the specific capacitance and electrosorption performance. Under the optimal conditions, the largest surface area was 445.2 m² g⁻¹ when the mass content of ATO in the nanocomposite was 20 wt%. The synthesized optimal ATO–RGO electrode displayed excellent specific capacity (158.2 F g⁻¹) and outstanding electrosorptive capacity (8.63 mg g⁻¹) in sodium chloride solution, which were much higher than the corresponding results of pristine graphene (74.3 F g⁻¹ and 3.98 mg g⁻¹). At the same applied voltage, electrosorption capacity and charge efficiency of the ATO–RGO (20 wt%) material were better than those of reported carbon materials in recent years.

Antimony doped tin oxide–graphene nanocomposites synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach displayed good specific capacity and electrosorptive capacity.

Ferrocene as a Novel Additive to Enhance the Lithium-Ion Storage Capability of SnO2/Graphene Composite

Improving the reversibility of conversion reaction is a promising way to enhance the lithium-ion storage capability of SnO₂-based anodes. Herein, we report ferrocene as a novel additive to improve the Li-ion storage performance of the SnO₂/graphene (SnO₂/G) composite. Through a simple mixing method, ferrocene can be uniformly dispersed into the SnO₂/G electrode. It is found that the ferrocene additive can effectively suppress the agglomeration of Sn/SnO₂ and retain the nanoscale Sn/Li₂O interface. Furthermore, metallic Fe is formed from ferrocene in the discharge process and acts as a catalyst to promote the reversible conversion between Sn/Li₂O and SnO₂. As a result, the SnO₂/G electrode with the addition of 10 wt % ferrocene (10%Fc-SnO₂/G) exhibits a superior Li-ion storage performance. It displays a reversible capacity of up to 1084.5 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 after 150 cycles with a good rate capability (752 mAh g^-1 at 1 A g^-1). In addition, the 10%Fc-SnO₂/G electrode can retain a capacity of 787.2 mAh g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1 after 220 cycles. This work demonstrates the promising additive of ferrocene in enhancing the reversible capacity of SnO₂-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries.