3D RGO frameworks wrapped hollow spherical SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 mesoporous nano-shells: fabrication, characterization and lithium storage properties

• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.04.032
• Publication Date: 2016-04-09T23:12:40Z
• Authors: Bo Zhao; Yi-Tao Xu; Sheng-Yun Huang; Kai Zhang; Matthew M.F. Yuen; Jian-Bin Xu; Xian-Zhu Fu; Rong Sun; Ching-Ping Wong
• Keywords: Three dimensional; Lithium storage properties; RGO frameworks; Mesoporous; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 7. Clean energy; Hollow spheres

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide (RGO) frameworks confined hollow spherical SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 @RGO nano-shells (3D h-SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 @RGO) are successfully obtained by hydrothermal reduction of h-SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 @GO in graphene oxide (GO) suspension. As anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the novel 3D h-SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 @RGO architectures demonstrate great improvement in cycling performance (∼830 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g −1 ) and rate capability (∼550 mAh g −1 at 1000 mA g −1 for 10 cycles) over that of hollow SnO 2 spheres (h-SnO 2 ), h-SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 , and 3D RGO frameworks wrapped hollow spherical SnO 2 @RGO nano-shells (3D h-SnO 2 @RGO). The 3D porous frameworks and coating graphene nano-shells serve as efficient electron and ion conductive networks as well as buffer for the large volume variation of hollow SnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 during cycling. Moreover, the hollow spherical metal oxide mesoporous nano-shells could enlarge the surface area, retard the volume change, prevent aggregation of nanosized active materials and graphene nanosheets.