Applying functionalized carbon nanotubes to enhance electrochemical performances of tin oxide composite electrodes for Li-ion battery

In this work, the tin oxide/carbon nanotubes (SnO2/CNT) nanocomposite, where SnO2 nanoparticles were deposited on the functionalized single wall CNTs, has been shown to exhibit desirable electrochemical performances as the negative electrodes for the lithium ion batteries. CNTs not only suppressed the mechanical degradation of SnO2 and therefore provided the composite electrode with excellent capacity retention (>650 mAh g−1 with less than 10% capacity loss after 100 cycles), but also enhanced the electronic conductivity of the electrodes leading to excellent rate capability. The nanostructure of the nanocomposite has been shown to be critical for mitigating the mechanical degradation of electrodes.

► A simple approach was developed to synthesize SnO2/Functionalized CNTs composite.
► CNTs not only improved the conductivity, but also enhanced the mechanical strength.
► Functionalized CNTs showed significantly improved first cycle efficiency.
► The composite electrodes showed excellent cycling stability and high rate capacity.