Facile synthesis of graphitic carbons decorated with SnO2 nanoparticles and their application as high capacity lithium-ion battery anodes

A facile and potentially scalable synthesis route to obtain SnO2–carbon composites was developed. SnO2 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of two types of graphitic carbon: (a) commercial porous graphite (HG) and (b) graphitic carbon nanostructures. The synthesis procedure consists of two simple steps: (i) room temperature formation/deposition of SnO2 nanocrystals and (ii) thermal treatment at 350 °C to generate SnO2 nanoparticles (size ~3.5 nm) over the carbon surface. The electrochemical performance of the graphitic carbons and the SnO2–carbon composites as anode materials in Li-ion rechargeable batteries was investigated. In all cases, tape casting electrode fabrication allowed almost full active material utilization. Good cyclabilities were achieved, with HG and HG–SnO2 showing capacities of 356 and 545 mAh g−1, respectively after 50 cycles.