SnO2 meso-scale tubes: One-step, room temperature electrodeposition synthesis and kinetic investigation for lithium storage

SnO2 meso-scale tubes were synthesized by anodic electrochemical deposition under ambient conditions. Controlled self-bubbling O2 acted as both the template and the oxidizing agent for obtaining SnO2 tube structures at the interface of the gas (O2) and the liquid (electrolyte). Electrochemical testing showed that the meso-scale tubes have higher discharge capacity and better rate capability than the “microbowls” produced by varying the deposition conditions. From the Arrhenius plot, the apparent activation energies were calculated to be 58.4 and 90.1 kJ mol−1 for the meso-scale tubes and the microbowls, respectively, indicating that the meso-scale structure allows shorter diffusion routes for the lithium ions or for easier interaction with lithium.