Dunaliella Salinas based Sn–carbon anode for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Long life, high capacity, environmental friendliness and good rate performance are the most important elements in the research of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this paper, Sn–carbon composite electrode materials are prepared using Dunaliella Salinas based carbon (amorphous carbon) as an amorphous carbon precursor combined with tin. Hence, an amorphous carbon template enwrapped by Sn particles forms a core–shell structure (Sn–carbon composite), the annealed Dunaliella Salinas based carbon makes up the carbon core, and Sn particles form the shell of the material. The components of the materials, microstructure and electrochemical properties of LIBs were characterized and tested. The results show that the prepared Sn–carbon composite electrode materials have high purity and combine with amorphous carbon uniformly. The Sn–carbon composite exhibits excellent performance as a LIB anode, its discharge capacities of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th cycles are 1777.39, 944.15 and 722.46 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹, and the capacity is 619.09 mA h g⁻¹ after stable cycling at a current density of 200 mA g⁻¹. The capacity continues to rise at a high current density of 1000 mA g⁻¹ and is 574.97 mA h g⁻¹ at its maximum, demonstrating the excellent performance of the electrode.