Hydrothermal synthesis of SnO nanoflakes as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

SnO nanoflakes were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal process, with the use of hydrazine hydrate as the mineralizer and polyethylene glycol (PEG) or citric acid as an additive. Hydrazine hydrate serves as both a mineralizer and a protective agent against the oxidation of the SnO products at the hydrothermal stage. X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy were employed to characterize the products. FESEM images reveal that the thickness of the SnO nanoflakes prepared by the hydrothermal process with the use of PEG as an additive is around 15 nm. The first reversible specific capacity of the SnO nanoflakes reaches 856 mA h/g, which is near the theoretical value (876 mA h/g). Hydrazine hydrate, the hydrothermal temperature, and the surfactant/complexing agent are three key factors for the hydrothermal synthesis of the SnO nanoflakes by the process presented here.