Enhanced Cyclic Performance and Lithium Storage Capacity of SnO₂/Graphene Nanoporous Electrodes with Three-Dimensionally Delaminated Flexible Structure

Abstract

To fabricate nanoporous electrode materials with delaminated structure, the graphene nanosheets (GNS) in the ethylene glycol solution were reassembled in the presence of rutile SnO(2) nanoparticles. According to the TEM analysis, the graphene nanosheets are homogeneously distributed between the loosely packed SnO(2) nanoparticles in such a way that the nanoporous structure with a large amount of void spaces could be prepared. The obtained SnO(2)/GNS exhibits a reversible capacity of 810 mAh/g; furthermore, its cycling performance is drastically enhanced in comparison with that of the bare SnO(2) nanoparticle. After 30 cycles, the charge capacity of SnO(2)/GNS still remained 570 mAh/g, that is, about 70% retention of the reversible capacity, while the specific capacity of the bare SnO(2) nanoparticle on the first charge was 550 mAh/g, dropping rapidly to 60 mAh/g only after 15 cycles. The dimensional confinement of tin oxide nanoparticles by the surrounding GNS limits the volume expansion upon lithium insertion, and the developed pores between SnO(2) and GNS could be used as buffered spaces during charge/discharge, resulting in the superior cyclic performances.