A nanostructured SnO₂/Ni/CNT composite as an anode for Li ion batteries.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Tin dioxide (SnO₂) is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity.
• However, SnO₂ suffers from poor cycling stability and large volume expansion during lithium insertion/extraction.
• Developing strategies to mitigate these issues is crucial for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a SnO₂/Ni/CNT nanocomposite for lithium-ion battery anodes.
• To investigate the electrochemical performance and stability of the developed nanocomposite.
• To understand the role of Ni and CNTs in enhancing the electrochemical properties of SnO₂.

Main Methods:

• One-step hydrothermal synthesis followed by calcination.
• Structural and compositional analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy.
• Electrochemical performance evaluation via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) tests.

Main Results:

• The SnO₂/Ni/CNT nanocomposite maintained the tetragonal rutile structure of SnO₂, with confirmed presence of SnO₂, CNTs, and Ni nanoparticles.
• The nanocomposite exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 5312 mA h g^-1 at 50 mA g^-1, significantly higher than pristine SnO₂ (1445 mA h g^-1).
• After 210 cycles at 400 mA g^-1, the nanocomposite retained a discharge capacity of 919 mA h g^-1, demonstrating excellent cycling stability and improved Li-ion diffusion.

Conclusions:

• The SnO₂/Ni/CNT nanocomposite effectively mitigates the pulverization and agglomeration issues associated with SnO₂ anodes.
• The incorporation of Ni nanoparticles enhances Sn stability and reversible conversion reactions, leading to improved capacity and durability.
• The nanocomposite shows great potential as a high-performance anode material for advanced lithium-ion batteries.