Critical size of a nano SnO2 electrode for Li-secondary battery

SnO2 nanoparticles with different sizes of similar to 3, similar to 4, and similar to 8 nm were synthesized using a hydrothermal method at 110, 150, and 200 degrees C, respectively. The results showed that the similar to 3 nm-sized SnO2 nanoparticles had a superior capacity and cycling stability as compared to the similar to 4 and similar to 8 nm-sized ones. The similar to 3 nm-sized nanoparticles exhibited an initial capacity of 740 mAh/g with negligible capacity fading. The electrochemical properties of these nanoparticles were superior to those of thin-film analogues. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the similar to 3 nm-sized SnO2 nanoparticles after electrochemical tests did not aggregate into larger Sri clusters, in contrast to those observed with the similar to 4 and similar to 8 nm-sized ones.