Natural-Cellulose-Derived Tin-Nanoparticle/Carbon-Nanofiber Composite as Anodic Material in Lithium-Ion Batteries

A series of tin-nanoparticle/carbon-nanofiber composites with varied tin content were synthesized by employing natural cellulose (e.g., ordinary laboratory filter paper) as both the structural scaffold and carbon source. The nanocomposites were obtained through hydrogen reduction of nanofibrous tin-oxide/carbon hybrids that were prepared by a self-assembly technique based on the surface sol-gel process. The nanocomposite with 16wt% tin content was composed of fine metallic tin nanocrystallites with sizes of 20-50nm that were uniformly immobilized on the surface of the cellulose-derived carbon nanofibers. When employed as an anodic material for lithium-ion batteries, because of its unique three-dimensionally hierarchical porous structures and the buffering effect of the carbon matrix, it showed a stable discharge capacity of ca. 430mAhg(-1) after 200charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 100mAg(-1), which was close to the calculated theoretical capacity of the electrode. In addition, its structural stability upon extensive charge/discharge cycling processes is outstanding.