Novel SnO2/Mesoporous Carbon Spheres Composite Anode for Li-ion Batteries

This work describes the preparation of a novel composite material made of nanosized SnO2 supported into ordered mesoporous carbon spheres (SnO2/MCS) through a two-step hydrothermal/impregnation method. The morphology, structure and composition of the samples have been characterized by means of atomic emission spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen-adsorption techniques. The experimental findings suggest that the supported tin oxide species, with loading amounts as high as 30 wt. %, are located and dispersed onto the mesopores of the carbon spheres. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic discharge/charge cycling have been used to test the electrochemical behaviour as anodes in test cells using lithium foils as both the counter and the reference electrodes. The best electrode cycles with a specific capacity in the order of 500 mAh g(-1) at C/10 current rate. It also performs well at high rate (1C rate), showing good capacity and excellent charge-discharge efficiency.