Fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube/tin nanoparticle composites by electrochemical reduction combined with vacuum filtration and hybrid co-filtration for high-performance lithium battery electrodes

Hybrids consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and tin nanoparticles are prepared on substrates as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries via two different techniques: (i) hybrid co-filtration by simultaneous vacuum filtration of SWNT/tin nanoparticle hybrid solutions and (ii) a combined technique comprised of vacuum filtration and electrochemical reduction. The resulting hybrid composites are of uniform thickness and consist of a homogeneous dispersion of tin nanoparticles in a SWNT network. In the hybrid films, the tin nanoparticles and SWNTs are in close contact with each other and the substrate. The hybrid films exhibit extended cycle life (capacity retention of 80% at 50th cycle), high power characteristics up to 1.75 mA cm−2, high electrode density up to 5 mg cm−2, and enhanced reversible capacities (535 mAh g−1 for composite electrode at 50th cycle) because the aggregation of tin nanoparticles is prevented.