Preparation of graphene/SnO2 composite as high capacity anode material for lithium ion batteries

• We explore a wet chemical-hydrothermal route for the preparation of graphene/SnO2 composite.
• The SnO2 nanoparticles are uniformly coated on the graphene nanosheets.
• The initial reversible capacity is as high as 1109.4 mAh g−1 at the current density of 500 mA g−1.
• The graphene/SnO2 composite maintains excellent cycling stability especially at large current densities.

A wet chemical-hydrothermal route has been developed to prepare graphene/tin oxide (SnO2) composites as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The synthesized composite exhibits enhanced capacity retention at large current densities, which can be attributed to the highly uniform distribution of large amount of SnO2 nanoparticles on the graphene nanosheet (GNS). The composite delivers a superior first reversible capacity of 1109.4 mAh g−1 at the current density of 500 mA g−1. Even at higher current densities of 800, 1000 and 2000 mA g−1, the graphene/SnO2 composite still maintains good cycling stability. After 50 cycles, the charge capacity is still kept at 755.7 mAh g−1 at the current density of 500 mA g−1.