One-pot synthesis of tin chalcogenide-reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotube nanocomposite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In this study, a ternary tin chalcogenide (TC)–reduced graphene oxide (RGO)–carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite was synthesized as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode by a simple one-step protocol. The nanocomposite was prepared through a hydrothermal method using tin chloride as the tin precursor, thiourea as the sulfur source and reducing agent, and GO–CNT hybrid as the carbonaceous nanostructure. The structure, morphology, and phase analysis of the synthesized nanocomposite powder were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that GO is reduced while SnS and SnS₂ nanosheets along with SnO₂ nanoparticles are simultaneously formed within the RGO–CNT hybrid framework throughout the hydrothermal process. During the first lithiation–delithiation process, the discharge capacity and the columbic efficiency for the ternary TC–RGO–CNT nanocomposite electrode at a current density of 50 mA g⁻¹ are 1401 mA h g⁻¹ and 50%, respectively. The TC–RGO–CNT electrode gives an improved capacity of 197 mA h g⁻¹ at 500 mA g⁻¹ while the corresponding value for the bare TC, and binary TC–CNT and TC–RGO nanocomposite electrodes was only 5, 18, and 41 mA h g⁻¹, respectively. Meanwhile, the ternary nanocomposite anode indicates outstanding stability after 150 cycles with a reversible capacity of 100 mA h g⁻¹ at 500 mA g⁻¹. The excellent electrochemical performance of the ternary TC–RGO–CNT nanocomposite is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the high capacity of electrochemically-active TC nanostructures along with the large surface area, porous structure, and exceptional conductivity of the 3D RGO–CNT framework.