The fast filling of nano-SnO2 in CNTs by vacuum absorption: a new approach to realize cyclic durable anodes for lithium ion batteries

CNTs filled with amorphous-nanocrystalline SnO2, as a unique SnO2-based nanocomposite structure, were synthesized by a rapid vacuum absorption followed by calcination. The SnO2/CNT nanocomposite anodes had a much higher Li storage capacity than the pristine CNTs, as well as a markedly improved cyclic performance (430 mA h g(-1) after 300 cycles at 0.1 A g(-1)). These superior electrode properties resulted from the unique feature of the amorphous-nanocrystalline mixture of tin oxides stored in the CNT tubes of this nanocomposite, because this structure accommodated the stress and confined the volume change of Li(+) insertion/desertion in Sn. Although the nanocomposites had a large initial irreversible capacity loss due to SEI formation, it could be dramatically reduced by prelithiation treatment of the nanocomposite electrode.