Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of SnO2/Graphene Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

SnO2/graphene nanocomposites were in-situ prepared by using graphite oxide and SnCl2 center dot 2H(2)O as raw material, in which external reducing agent is not required. Compared with mechanical mixing method, it can avoid the congregation of SnO2 nanoparticles and graphene. The analysis results (XRD, TEM, etc) indicate that SnO2 nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed on the surface of graphene layers with a particle size of 3-6 nm, and the thickness of graphene layers is about 1.5-2 nm. The main electrochemical performance can be concluded as follows. 1) The discharge capacity of SnO2/graphene anode electrode after 100 cycles at 200 mA/g, remains at 552 mAh/g, and the capacity retention is 4.4 times of bare SnO2. 2) The discharge capacities of SnO2/graphene anode electrode at 40, 400 and 800 mA/g are 724.5, 426.0 and 241.3 mAh/g, respectively. The excellent rate capability should be attributed to the high electric conductivity and two-dimensional nanostructures of graphene.