Hierarchical Graphene-Encapsulated Hollow SnO2@SnS2 Nanostructures with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capability

Authors

Wangwang Xu, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Zhiqiang Xie, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Xiaodan Cui, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Kangning Zhao, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology , Wuhan 430070, China.
Lei Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology , Wuhan 430070, China.
Grant Dietrich, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
Ying Wang, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-14-2015

Abstract

Complex hierarchical structures have received tremendous attention due to their superior properties over their constitute components. In this study, hierarchical graphene-encapsulated hollow SnO2@SnS2 nanostructures are successfully prepared by in situ sulfuration on the backbones of hollow SnO2 spheres via a simple hydrothermal method followed by a solvothermal surface modification. The as-prepared hierarchical SnO2@SnS2@rGO nanocomposite can be used as anode material in lithium ion batteries, exhibiting excellent cyclability with a capacity of 583 mAh/g after 100 electrochemical cycles at a specific current of 200 mA/g. This material shows a very low capacity fading of only 0.273% per cycle from the second to the 100th cycle, lower than the capacity degradation of bare SnO2 hollow spheres (0.830%) and single SnS2 nanosheets (0.393%). Even after being cycled at a range of specific currents varied from 100 mA/g to 2000 mA/g, hierarchical SnO2@SnS2@rGO nanocomposites maintain a reversible capacity of 664 mAh/g, which is much higher than single SnS2 nanosheets (374 mAh/g) and bare SnO2 hollow spheres (177 mAh/g). Such significantly improved electrochemical performance can be attributed to the unique hierarchical hollow structure, which not only effectively alleviates the stress resulting from the lithiation/delithiation process and maintaining structural stability during cycling but also reduces aggregation and facilitates ion transport. This work thus demonstrates the great potential of hierarchical SnO2@SnS2@rGO nanocomposites for applications as a high-performance anode material in next-generation lithium ion battery technology.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

ACS applied materials & interfaces

First Page

22533

Last Page

41

Recommended Citation

Xu, W., Xie, Z., Cui, X., Zhao, K., Zhang, L., Dietrich, G., Dooley, K. M., & Wang, Y. (2015). Hierarchical Graphene-Encapsulated Hollow SnO2@SnS2 Nanostructures with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capability. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 7 (40), 22533-41. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b06765