One-pot synthesis of carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite using hydrothermal method for lithium ion battery application

Carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite was synthesized by using a hydrothermal method in a one step process with sizes of 1 to 3 microm. The carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite was easily obtained by changing firing atmosphere from air to argon (600 degrees C for 3 hours). The carbon-coating thickness and size of the SnO2 nanoparticles in carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite were confirmed through a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) as 40 and 5 nm, respectively. Carbon-coating and particle size affect to the capacity retention property. Carbon-coated and non carbon-coated samples were investigated as anode materials. It was confirmed that the non carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite had a 718 mA h/g initial charge capacity, 91% reached to theoretical value of SnO2 (790 mA h/g), while the carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite had an excellent capacity retention of 89.6% after 70 cycles (10.88% for non carbon-coated SnO2 nano-composite).