A C-coated and Sb-doped SnO2 nanocompsite with high surface area and low charge transfer resistance as ultrahigh capacity lithium ion battery anode

Abstract A novel kind of C-coated and Sb-doped SnO 2 (ATO/C) nanocomposite is prepared by a facile hydrothermal method following with high-temperature pyrolysis. The ATO/C particles are uniform, irregular, crystalline and small sizes (∼5–8 nm). High specific BET surface area of 192.1 m 2  g −1 and low charge transfer resistance of 98.9 Ω are obtained for the ATO/C. When used as the anode of lithium ion battery, the ATO/C shows an ultrahigh lithium storage capacity. It may deliver an initial discharge specific capacity of 2634.9 mAh g −1 with the Coulombic efficiency of 88.4% at 0.1 C, and the capacity increases to the highest 2847.4 mAh g −1 after 50 cycles. Even after 1000 cycles at the increased current density of 1 C, the discharge capacity of 1008.5 mAh g −1 can be preserved indicating its high cyclic stability. Besides, it has a capacity of 370.8 mAh g −1 at the higher current density of 10 C, exhibiting the robust rate property.