Ultrasmall SnO(2) Nanocrystals: Hot-bubbling Synthesis, Encapsulation in Carbon Layers and Applications in High Capacity Li-Ion Storage

Ultrasmall SnO(2) nanocrystals as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been synthesized by bubbling an oxidizing gas into hot surfactant solutions containing Sn-oleate complexes. Annealing of the particles in N(2) carbonifies the densely packed surface capping ligands resulting in carbon encapsulated SnO(2) nanoparticles (SnO(2)/C). Carbon encapsulation can effectively buffer the volume changes during the lithiation/delithiation process. The assembled SnO(2)/C thus deliver extraordinarily high reversible capacity of 908 mA·h·g(−1) at 0.5 C as well as excellent cycling performance in the LIBs. This method demonstrates the great potential of SnO(2)/C nanoparticles for the design of high power LIBs.