Assembled hollow and core-shell SnO2 microspheres as anode materials for Li-ion batteries

SnO2 microspheres with controllable morphology were prepared via a hydrothermal-annealing method. The SnO2 morphology can be tuned by using AlOOH sol and γ-Al2O3 as additive. The hollow SnO2 microspheres with incomplete core-shell structure prepared with small amount of γ-Al2O3 presented the best cycling performance in Li-ion battery, exhibiting a specific capacity of 374.2 mAh g−1 up to 100 cycles. The superior performance can be mainly attributed to the formation of more and smaller SnO2 hollow microspheres and partial core-shell SnO2 microspheres resulting from the γ-Al2O3 condensation nucleus. The unique hollow and core-shell composite structure of SnO2 is capable of reducing the volume changes during Li insertion–extraction.

A new synthesis method was developed to prepare SnO2 microspheres with controllable morphology through adding AlOOH sol and γ-Al2O3 as additives in a hydrothermal strategy for the first time. The prepared hollow and partial core-shell composite structure SnO2 microspheres exhibited the much improved cycling performance, compared to currently reported SnO2 anodes. The superior performance derived from the addition of γ-Al2O3 in systhesis was discussed in a correlation of the prepared unique hollow microspheres with incomplete core-shell structure observed in the SnO2 microspheres.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Morphology-controlled synthesis of SnO2 microspheres were successfully achieved.
► An annealing process was introduced for strengthening the crystal of samples.
► The additive-effect on morphology of SnO2 microspheres was proposed.
► The core-shell SnO2 hollow microspheres exhibited the best cycling performance