Electrospun Sn Embedded in Carbon Nanofibers as an Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Well-defined composite electrodes have been known to have enhanced lithium ion reaction such as the capacity, stability, and cycling performance.We prepared the composite electrodes consisting of Sn nanoparticles and carbon nanofibers (Sn/CNF) as an anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using electrospinning method and calcination process under nitrogen atmosphere.The as-prepared Sn/CNF showed metallic Sn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in the CNF as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fieldemission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM).The performance of the samples as an anode for LIBs was evaluated by charge-discharge and high rate curves, cyclic voltammograms (CVs), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using lithium coin cells.Compared to CNF-only, Sn/CNF exhibited high specific capacity, improved stability, and excellent high rate cycling performance due to low transport resistance and high diffusion coefficient for lithium ions.