A facile strategy towards high capacity and stable Sn anodes for Li-ion battery: Dual-confinement via Sn@SnO2 core-shell nanoparticles embedded in 3D graphitized porous carbon network

A scalable and facile one-pot spray pyrolysis method combined with reduction process during hydrogen atmosphere at a low temperature of 400 °C is developed for the formation of Sn@SnO2-3DGHPC materials, in which Sn@SnO2 core-shell nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on a 3D graphitized hierarchical porous carbon network. In this constructed architecture, the SnO2 shell composed of single crystals could effectively not only facilitate the Li+/electrons transport but also alleviate mechanical stress caused by the large volume variation of internal Sn nanoparticles, while the 3D graphitized hierarchical porous carbon network with high electrical conductivity and mechanical stability can tightly capture the Sn@SnO2 nanoparticles and avoid direct contaction between them, thus leading to the internal integrity and structural stability of overall electrode materials. Consequently, this novel Sn@SnO2-3DGHPC anode exhibits high reversible capacity, outstanding cycling stability and rate capability.