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Carbon nanotubes cross-linked Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles/graphene networks as high capacities, long life anode materials for lithium ion batteries

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Abstract

By shielding zinc stannate (ZTO, viz., Zn2SnO4) nanoparticles with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as well as multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), we have successfully created ZTO/RGO/MWCNTs composites via a facile hydrothermal process. In the designed hybrid nanostructure, acting as the strut and bridge to open the graphene sheets, 3D RGO/MWCNT nets not only tackle the problem of volume expansion and the aggregation of ZTO nanoparticles, but also maintain the integration of anode materials for high electrochemical performance. As a result, the resultant anode material shows high reversible capacity, superior rate capacity and long-running cycle performance for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). For instance, a excellent reversible capacity of 915.9 mAh g−1 was obtained at the current density of 100 mA g−1 after 340 cycles. Our study demonstrates significant potential of ZTO/RGO/MWCNTs as anode materials for LIBs.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51572194), the Key Projects of Tianjin Municipal Natural Science Foundation of China (14JCZDJC32200), LPMT, CAEP (KF14006), Academic Innovation Funding of Tianjin Normal University (52XC1404), Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars of State Education Ministry, Training Plan of Leader Talent of University in Tianjin and the program of Thousand Youth Talents in Tianjin of China. XS and YZ thanks support from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Research Chair Program.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Energy & Materials Engineering Centre, College of Physics and Materials Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, China

      Hui Shan, Yang Zhao, Xifei Li, Dongbin Xiong, Lei Dong, Bo Yan, Dejun Li & Xueliang Sun

    2. Tianjin International Joint Research Centre of Surface Technology for Energy Storage Materials, Tianjin, 300387, China

      Hui Shan, Yang Zhao, Xifei Li, Dongbin Xiong, Lei Dong, Bo Yan, Dejun Li & Xueliang Sun

    3. National Key Laboratory of Power Sources, Tianjin Institute of Power Sources, Tianjin, 300381, China

      Hui Shan

    4. Nanomaterials and Energy Lab, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

      Yang Zhao & Xueliang Sun

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    1. Hui Shan
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    Correspondence to Xifei Li, Dejun Li or Xueliang Sun.

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    Hui Shan and Yang Zhao these authors have contributed equally.

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    Shan, H., Zhao, Y., Li, X. et al. Carbon nanotubes cross-linked Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles/graphene networks as high capacities, long life anode materials for lithium ion batteries. J Appl Electrochem 46, 851–860 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-016-0961-1

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