Hierarchical SnO2 Nanoflakes Integrated with Carbon Nanofibers as an Advanced Anode Material for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have attracted significant attention as potential energy storage solutions due to their high energy density, minimal self-discharge, extended cycle life, and absence of memory effects. However, conventional LIBs use graphite as the anode material and as a result struggle to meet the increasing demand for higher energy density because of the low theoretical capacity of graphite. In order to enhance Li storage capacity and address the current limitations of LIBs, this study designed and analyzed SnO2 nanoflakes/CNF, which is an advanced anode material with a unique hierarchical structure synthesized via a facile method involving incipient wetness followed by annealing. The in-situ formed SnO2 nanoflakes improve the electrolyte accessibility and shorten the ion and electron transport pathways, thereby enhancing the reaction kinetics. Additionally, the CNF matrix enhances the electrical conductivity, accelerates electron transport, and mitigates volume changes. The integrated SnO2 nanoflakes/CNF cell demonstrated outstanding cycling performance and excellent rate capability, achieving a notable reversible capacity of 636 mAh g - 1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. This study provides valuable insights into the design of high-efficiency anode materials for the advancement of high- performance LIBs.