Three-dimensional porous SnO2/carbon cloth electrodes for high-performance lithium- and sodium-ion batteries

The tin oxide nanoparticles (SnO2-NPs) were successfully synthesized on the conductive carbon cloth (CC) using a simple one-step solvothermal method to form three-dimensional (3D) porous SnO2/CC composite. The SnO2-NPs were uniformly deposited on CC and fine pores existed between the SnO2-NPs. The synthesized 3D porous SnO2/CC composite was investigated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). When tested as an anode for LIBs, the as-prepared 3D porous SnO2@CC composite electrode delivered a discharge capacity of 1038 mA h g−1 over 200 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. For SIBs, a discharge capacity of 498 mA h g−1 was delivered at 0.2 A g−1 over 100 cycles. Even at 0.5 A g−1, the electrode exhibited a discharge capacity of 205 mA h g−1 over 100 cycles. The excellent electrochemical properties of 3D porous SnO2/CC composite electrode for both lithium and sodium storage can be attributed to the good porous structure between the SnO2-NPs on the surface of CC and improved electrical conductivity due to CC, which not only releases the strain during the Li+/Na+ insertion/extraction process but also can improve the ionic and electronic transportation.