Electrospinning Sn@C nanofibers for high-performance flexible lithium ion battery anodes

Abstract

Abstract Lithium ion batteries are considered as one of the most important energy storage devices in the field of portable electronics and electric vehicles. However, exploring novel and high-performance electrode materials are still urgently needed, as the state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries cannot meet the ever-increasing demand for high energy/power densities. Metal tin and its oxides are promising lithium ion battery anodes, but suffering from drastic volume change and crack issues during lithium intercalation/deintercalation cycling. Here we report a feasible technology to fabricate flexible and free-standing Sn@C nanofiber membrane via electrospinning method, consisting of one dimensional carbon matrix with Sn nanoparticles confined inside. Owing to the superior electron/ion transfer ability and confinement effect from the carbon coating, the as-obtained Sn@ C electrode exhibits a capacity of 668 mA h g −1 at 1 A g −1 even after 350 cycles and a reversible capacity of 263 mA h g −1 can be achieved at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A g −1 . In all, this work provides a promising anode for practical application on lithium ion batteries.