Reduced graphene oxide/tin oxide composite as an enhanced anode material for lithium ion batteries prepared by homogenous coprecipitation

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 196; no. 15; pp. 6473 - 6477
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xianjun, Zhu, Yanwu, Murali, Shanthi, Stoller, Meryl D., Ruoff, Rodney S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anode; Anodes; Applied sciences; Charge; Coprecipitation; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Graphene; Homogeneous coprecipitation; Lithium ion battery; Lithium-ion batteries; Materials; Nanoparticles; Oxides; Reduced graphene oxide; Synthesis; Tin oxide; Tin oxides; Homogeneous coprecipitation; Lithium ion battery; Reduced graphene oxide; Anode; Tin oxide; Lithium battery; Graphene; Alkaline storage battery; Secondary cell; Electrode material; Coprecipitation; Composite material
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.04.015

► We report a facile synthesis of a ‘graphene’-SnO2 composite by homogeneous coprecipitation. ► SnO2 nanoparticles are decorated uniformaly on the surface of reduced graphene oxide platlets. ► As an anode material for Li-ion battery, the RG-O/SnO2 composite exhibits discharge and charge capacities of 2140 and 1080 mAh/g at the first cycle, respectively, with good cycling performance. ► The synthesis approach presents a promising route for large scale production of RG-O platelet/metal oxide nanoparticle composites as electrode materials.
Reduced graphene oxide/tin oxide composite is prepared by homogenous coprecipitation. Characterizations show that tin oxide particles are anchored uniformly on the surface of reduced graphene oxide platelets. As an anode material for Li ion batteries, it has 2140mAhg−1 and 1080mAhg−1 capacities for the first discharge and charge, respectively, which is more than the theoretical capacity of tin oxide, and has good capacity retention with a capacity of 649mAhg−1 after 30 cycles. The simple synthesis method can be readily adapted to prepare other composites containing reduced graphene oxide as a conducting additive that, in addition to supporting metal oxide nanoparticles, can also provide additional Li binding sites to, perhaps, further enhance capacity.