Synthesis and lithium storage properties of interconnected fullerene-like carbon nanofibers encapsulated with tin nanoparticles

Interconnected fullerene-like carbon nanofibers encapsulated with tin nanoparticles (Sn@FLCNFs) were synthesized by a facile and scalable electrospinning method using fullerene-like carbon nanoparticles and PVP as carbon sources. SEM and TEM revealed that Sn nanoparticles have been uniformly embedded into the nanofibers. The self-supported Sn@FLCNFs could be directly used as an anode of lithium-ion battery without adding any polymer and binder; it showed a high initial coulombic efficiency. A reversible capacity as high as 846 mA h g−1 remained after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g−1. When the current density was raised to 1 A g−1, the reversible capacity maintained 656 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the formation of the efficient Li-ions diffusion paths and highly conductive cross-linked network in the Sn@FLCNFs electrode, and the interconnected carbon framework can prevent the Sn nanoparticles from pulverization and re-aggregation during cycles.