Simple Synthesis of Nanostructured Sn/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composite Using Nitrilotriacetic Acid as Lithium Ion Battery Anode

A composite of 3.5 nm Sn nanoparticles dispersed in nitrogen-doped carbon was prepared from low cost precursors, using simple equipment, by the simple process of hydrolyzing at 300 °C SnCl 4 mixed with nitrilotriacetic acid and then pyrolyzing the complexed SnO 2 at 650 °C. The affordable anode made with the composite retained at 0.2 A g –1 specific current a specific capacity of 660 mAh·g –1 at the 200th cycle and a 630 mAh·g –1 capacity at 400th cycle. At 1 A g –1 specific current the capacity was as 435 mAh·g –1 .