Structural Engineering of SnSe Encapsulated in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

SnSe possesses great potential as an engaging anode candidate for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its excellent lithium storage capabilities. Nonetheless, the poor electrical conductivity and large volume expansion upon cycling greatly limit its practical application. Rational design and synthesis of the SnSe anode material with outstanding electrochemical performance are highly desirable. Herein, a one-dimensional hollow tubular structured SnSe@NCNT nanomaterial with SnSe nanoparticles encapsulated in hollow carbon nanotubes is successfully prepared by a general template method. Such a unique nanostructure combined with strong chemical bonds between SnSe and the N-doped carbon shell is propitious to alleviate the volume variation of SnSe during cycling while improving the electrochemical reaction kinetics. Consequently, the SnSe@NCNT-based LIBs demonstrate a high specific capacity of 1234.2 mAh g–1 at 0.1 A g–1, excellent rate capability (245.3 mAh g–1 at 2.0 A g–1), and superior cycling stability (646.2 mAh g–1 at 1.0 A g–1 after 1000 cycles).