A reduced graphene oxide/SnO2/polyaniline nanocomposite for the anode material of Li-ion batteries
Abstract In this study, a SnO 2 based composite composed of SnO 2 nanoparticles, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polyaniline (PANI) sheets was synthesized and evaluated as the anode material of high performance Li-ion batteries. The rGO/SnO 2 /PANI composite exhibited excellent electrochemical performance including high capacity (1017 mAh g − 1 at 200 mA g − 1 for the 2nd cycle), superior rate capability (397 mAh g − 1 at a current density of 10 A g − 1 ) and cyclic stability (1280 mAh g − 1 after 200 cycles). The significant enhancements in electrochemical performance are ascribed to the nanostructure of the composite in which SnO 2 nanoparticles of around 3.9 nm were most probably sandwiched between rGO and PANI sheets that are flexible and conductive. Extremely fine SnO 2 nanoparticles, high specific surface area, mesoporous structure and good electrical conductivity of the composite resulted in the high capacity and superior rate performance. The nanostructure of rGO/SnO 2 /PANI can accommodate volume expansion during lithiation of SnO 2 and at the same time inhibit particle aggregation during cycling, yielding excellent cyclic stability of the rGO/SnO 2 /PANI composite.