Tin-based nanomaterials: colloidal synthesis and battery applications

Tin-based nanomaterials have been of increasing interest in many fields such as alkali-ion batteries, gas sensing, thermoelectric devices, and solar cells. Finely controllable structures and compositions of tin-based nanomaterials are crucial to improve their performances. The solution-based colloidal synthesis of these compounds offers a promising path toward controlling their structures and components. This feature article summarizes the progress in recent studies on the colloidal synthesis of tin-based nanomaterials (such as metallic tin, alloys, oxides, chalcogenides, and phosphides) and their applications in alkali-ion batteries including our own recent contributions to this subject. The challenges and future outlook of the controllable synthesis and practical development of tin-based anode materials are also addressed.