Facile synthesis of graphitic carbons decorated with SnO2 nanoparticles and their application as high capacity lithium-ion battery anodes

A facile and potentially scalable synthesis route to obtain SnO2-carbon composites was developed. SnO2 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of two types of graphitic carbon: a) commercial porous graphite (HG) and b) graphitic carbon nanostructures (GCN). The synthesis procedure consists of two simple steps: i) room temperature formation/deposition of SnO2 nanocrystals and ii) thermal treatment at 350 oC in order to generate SnO2 nanoparticles (size ~ 3.5 nm) over the carbon surface. The electrochemical performance of the graphitic carbons and the SnO2-carbon composites as anode materials in Li-ion rechargeable batteries was investigated. In all cases, tape casting electrode fabrication allowed almost full active material utilization. Good cyclabilities were achieved, with HG and HG-SnO2 showing capacities of 356 and 545 mAh g respectively after 50 cycles.