In Situ Incorporation of Super-Small Metallic High Capacity Nanoparticles and Mesoporous Structures for High-Performance TiO2/SnO2/Sn/Carbon Nanohybrid Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

TiO 2 is a promising lithium-ion battery anode due to its good operation safety enabled by its voltage profile. However, the intrinsically low electronic/ionic conductivity and moderate reversible capacity compromise its potential for practical applications. It is proposed in this work to incorporate super-small sized metallic high capacity tin-based nanoparticles into TiO 2 /carbon nanohybrids, coupled with in situ generation of mesoporous structures. Difunctional methacrylate resin monomers are used as the solvent and carbon source, followed by carbonization and hydrofluoric (HF) etching treatment. The precursors of TiO 2 , tin-based component, and SiO x porogen agent are homogeneously integrated into the cross-linking network at a molecular level. High reversible capacities, excellent rate capability, and good capacity retention are achieved simultaneously due to synergistic effects from the tin-based component bearing high capacity and good electron conductivity, and mechanical buffer medium of the mesoporous structures. Reversible capacities of 452 mAh g −1 are achieved after 400 cycles at 200 mA g −1 . High rate capacity of 131 mAh g −1 is maintained at 5 A g −1 . The overall capacities are increased by more than 2 times compared with the capacities of the tin-free TiO 2 /C and pristine TiO 2 /SnO 2 /Sn/SiO x /C nanohybrids.