Double-Shelled Nanostructure of SnO2@C Tube-in-SnO2@C Tube Boosts Lithium-Ion Storage

In the case of SnO2-based lithium-ion battery anodes, the double-shelled hollow nanostructures are expected to possess better performances than their single-shelled counterparts, but the fabrication of double-shelled hollow nanostructures is more difficult than those with single shell because of the increased complexity of structures. Herein, a complex quasi-SnO2@C tube-in-SnO2@C tube nanocomposite (SnO2@C DHNWs) is successfully fabricated by a well-designed facile strategy. The possible formation mechanism of SnO2@C DHNWs is also speculated. More importantly, the as-prepared SnO2@C DHNWs show outstanding electrochemical performance as a lithium-ion battery anode, that is, 774.5 and 462.5 mAh g(-1) are retained at 200 and 1000 mA g(-1) after 450 and even 1000 cycles, respectively, demonstrating high capacity, long lifespan, and good rate performances. Thus, excellent performance makes SnO2@C DHNWs a promising anode material for advanced lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, it is worth noting that this work may open up a new route to prepare complex nanostructures of SnO2@C composites with various morphologies.