Ultrafine Mo-doped SnO

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Tin-based materials are promising for high-capacity lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes due to cost and energy density.
• Severe structural decay during cycling limits the performance and lifespan of traditional tin anodes.
• Developing stable and high-performance anode materials is crucial for advancing LIB technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize molybdenum-doped tin dioxide (SnO2) nanostructures for improved LIB anode performance.
• To investigate the electrochemical behavior and long-term stability of Mo-doped SnO2 nanoparticles.
• To develop a binder-free, free-standing anode using Mo-doped SnO2 integrated into carbon nanofibers.

Main Methods:

• Facile hydrothermal synthesis of Mo-doped SnO2 nanostructures.
• Electrochemical testing to evaluate capacity, cyclability, and kinetics.
• Electrospinning and in-situ reduction to fabricate free-standing nanofiber membrane anodes.

Main Results:

• Mo-doped SnO2 nanoparticles exhibited enhanced electrochemical kinetics and cyclability, retaining a reversible capacity of 670 mA h g-1 after 700 cycles.
• The nanostructure fragmentation into ultrafine, fracture-resistant particles contributed to improved stability.
• The free-standing nanofiber membrane anode demonstrated comparable performance to conventional slurry-coated electrodes without binders or current collectors.

Conclusions:

• Mo-doped SnO2 nanoparticles offer a viable solution to the structural decay issues in tin-based anodes for LIBs.
• The developed free-standing anode architecture presents a simplified and efficient approach for next-generation LIBs.
• This research highlights the potential of nanostructured, doped metal oxides for high-performance energy storage applications.