Ultrasmall Sn Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon as High‐Performance Anode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Designed as a high‐capacity, high‐rate, and long‐cycle life anode for sodium‐ion batteries, ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles (≈8 nm) homogeneously embedded in spherical carbon network (denoted as 8‐Sn@C) is prepared using an aerosol spray pyrolysis method. Instrumental analyses show that 8‐Sn@C nanocomposite with 46 wt% Sn and a BET surface area of 150.43 m 2 g −1 delivers an initial reversible capacity of ≈493.6 mA h g −1 at the current density of 200 mA g −1 , a high‐rate capacity of 349 mA h g −1 even at 4000 mA g −1 , and a stable capacity of ≈415 mA h g −1 after 500 cycles at 1000 mA g −1 . The remarkable electrochemical performance of 8‐Sn@C is owing to the synergetic effects between the well‐dispersed…