A facile method to synthesize 3D structured Sn anode material with excellent electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

Sn anode materials with high specific capacity are an appealing alternative to graphite for next-generation advanced lithium-ion batteries. However, poor electrochemical performance originating from fracture and pulverization due to the enormous volume changes during lithium alloying/dealloying hinders their commercial applications. Here, we propose the synthesis of a novel 3D structured Sn anode material by a facile method: heat treatment of nanosized SnO2 spheres in a tube furnace with a flowing mixed atmosphere of C2H2/Ar at 400 °C. After the heat treatment, the nanosized SnO2 spheres convert into pure Sn bulk material (~20 μm), which consists of Sn nanowires (~50 nm in diameter and several microns in length). This unique 3D structure with sufficient voids between the nanowires effectively mitigates the volume expansion of Sn bulk material and ensures good electrical contact between the anode material and conducting additives. As a consequence, the 3D structured Sn anode material exhibits a specific reversible capacity of ~600 mA h/g and no significant capacity degradation (compared with that of the 20th cycle) over 500 cycles at 0.2 C.