Graphene Networks Anchored with Sn@Graphene as Lithium Ion Battery Anode

A facile and scalable in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique using metal precursors as a catalyst and a three-dimensional (3D) self-assembly of NaCl particles as a template is developed for one-step fabrication of 3D porous graphene networks anchored with Sn nanoparticles (5-30 nm) encapsulated with graphene shells of about 1 nm (Sn@G-PGNWs) as a superior lithium ion battery anode. In the constructed architecture, the CVD-synthesized graphene shells with excellent elasticity can effectively not only avoid the direct exposure of encapsulated Sn to the electrolyte and preserve the structural and interfacial stabilization of Sn nanoparticles but also suppress the aggregation of Sn nanoparticles and buffer the volume expansion, while the interconnected 3D porous graphene networks with high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and high mechanical flexibility tightly pin the core-shell structure of Sn@G and thus lead to remarkably enhanced electrical conductivity and structural integrity of the overall electrode. As a consequence, this 3D hybrid anode exhibits very high rate performance (1022 mAh/g at 0.2 C, 865 mAh/g at 0.5 C, 780 mAh/g at 1 C, 652 mAh/g at 2 C, 459 mAh/g at 5 C, and 270 mAh/g at 10 C, 1 C = 1 A/g) and extremely long cycling stability even at high rates (a high capacity of 682 mAh/g is achieved at 2 A/g and is maintained approximately 96.3% after 1000 cycles). As far as we know, this is the best rate capacity and longest cycle life ever reported for a Sn-based lithium ion battery anode.