Uniform Nano-Sn/C Composite Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Nano-Sn/C composites are ideal anode materials for high energy and power density Li-ion batteries. However, because of the low melting point of Sn and the tendency of grain growth, especially during high temperature carbonization, it has been a significant challenge to create well-dispersed ultrasmall Sn nanoparticles within a carbon matrix. In this paper, we demonstrate an aerosol spray pyrolysis technique, as a facile and scalable method, to synthesize a nano-Sn/C composite with uniformly dispersed 10 nm nano-Sn within a spherical carbon matrix. The discharge capacity of nano-Sn/C composite sphere anodes maintains the initial capacity of 710 mAh/g after 130 cycles at 0.25 C. The nano-Sn/C composite sphere…