Controllable lithium storage performance of tin oxide anodes with various particle sizes

The SnO 2 anode materials with various nanoparticle sizes were successfully synthesized to study their size effects on lithium storage performance. The compositions , structures, particle sizes and morphologies of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra , X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. It was confirmed that the obtained nanomaterials via a facile reflux approach show smaller size than that of hydrothermal method . Using cyclic voltammograms, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy , and galvanostatical charge/discharge testing, the SnO 2 anodes with different nanoparticle sizes exhibit various electrochemical performance with lithium, originating from the enormous volume changes associated with the alloying and de-alloying processes. It was demonstrated that the anode material with smaller nanoparticle size performs much better lithium storage performance.