Intercalating Sn/Fe Nanoparticles in Compact Carbon Monolith for Enhanced Lithium Ion Storage

• Main Authors: Jie Deng, Yu Dai, Hui Dai, Luming Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: anode; lithium ion battery; tin oxide; carbon materials
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/7/2220

Given its high-capacity of multielectron (de-)lithiation, SnO₂ is deemed as a competitive anode substance to tackle energy density restrictions of low-theoretical-capacity traditional graphite. However, its pragmatic adhibition seriously encounters poor initial coulombic efficiency from irreversible Li₂O formation and drastic volume change during repeated charge/discharge. Here, an applicable gel pyrolysis methodology establishes a SnO₂/Fe₂O₃ intercalated carbon monolith as superior anode materials for Li ion batteries to effectively surmount problems of SnO₂. Its bulk-like, micron-sized, compact, and non-porous structures with low area surfaces (14.2 m² g^-1) obviously increase the tap density without compromising the transport kinetics, distinct from myriad hierarchically holey metal/carbon materials recorded till date. During the long-term Li⁺ insertion/extraction, the carbon matrix not only functions as a stress management framework to alleviate the stress intensification on surface layers, enabling the electrode to retain its morphological/mechanic integrity and yielding a steady solid electrolyte interphase film, but also imparts very robust connection to stop SnO₂ from coarsening/losing electric contact, facilitating fast electrolyte infiltration and ion/electron transfer. Besides, the closely contacted and evenly distributed Fe₂O₃/SnO₂ nanoparticles supply additional charge-transfer driving force, thanks to a built-in electric field. Benefiting from such virtues, the embedment of binary metal oxides in the dense carbons enhances initial Coulombic efficiency up to 67.3%, with an elevated reversible capacity of 726 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, a high capacity retention of 84% after 100 cycles, a boosted rate capability between 0.2 and 3.2 A g^-1, and a stable cycle life of 466 mAh/g over 200 cycles at 1 A g^-1. Our scenario based upon this unique binary metal-in-carbon sandwich compact construction to achieve the stress regulation and the so-called synergistic effect between metals or metal oxides and carbons is economically effective and tractable enough to scale up the preparation and can be rifely employed to other oxide anodes for ameliorating their electrochemical properties.