Electrochemical Properties of Disordered-Carbon-Coated SnO[sub 2] Nanoparticles for Li Rechargeable Batteries

The effects of carbon coating on ∼ 9 nm Sn O 2 particles were examined. The C-coated Sn O 2 nanoparticles were synthesized from Sn Cl 4 , glucose, and ethylene glycol through a solvothermal method. Raman spectra indicated that the coated carbon was a disordered carbon. The C-coated Sn O 2 nanoparticles showed superior cycling properties to the uncoated ones. Transmission electron microscopy after cycling confirmed that the nanoparticles were well dispersed without aggregation. The enhanced cycling property is believed to be attributed to the effective hindrance of nanoparticle growth by the core/shell structure of Sn ∕ Li 2 O and carbon layer after phase separation during the first discharge.