Structural and electrochemical properties of SnO₂-carbon composite aerogels for Li-ion battery anode material

Nanostructured tin oxide-carbon composite aerogel material (SnO₂/C) is synthesized using a sol-gel process, followed by annealing treatment under N₂ atmosphere. Varying the temperature of annealing leads to different textural properties and phases of the carbon/tin oxide material. The performance of this composite aerogel as an anode material for Li-ion battery is studied, and favorable retention properties are observed SnO₂/C annealed at 500 °C. This study provides insight into the role of moderately inactive carbon-based porous materials in composites with SnO₂ for improving the cyclability of tin oxide, an anode material that shows rapid fading. Incorporation into composite networks of inactive porous carbon enhances the mechanical properties of the tin oxide, which in turn strongly improves the cycling stability in Li-ion battery applications. The material exhibits an initial charge capacity of 1012 mAh g⁻¹ and retains 63% of its initial capacity after 50 cycles at a current density of 637 mAh g⁻¹.