Sunflower seed husk-derived submicron carbon spheres and SnO2 nanoparticles composite used as an anode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Tin dioxide (SnO2) has a wide range of sources and high specific capacity, it is a forward-looking measure to use it as a lithium-ion battery anode, whereas its performance will hampered rapidly due to large volume expansion in practical applications. In this paper, based on the concept of environmental protection and green experiment, sunflower seed shell was used as raw material, biomass carbon microspheres were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and compounded with SnO2 nanoparticles in a certain proportion. Green biomass-derived carbon submicron spheres and their cross-linked structures can not only shorten the lithium ion transport path, but also reduce the structural damage caused by lithium ion intercalation. In particular, under the premise of carefully controlling the reaction time, those obtained after the reaction time for 24 h presented a promising Li storage properties and electrochemical performance with an excellent high-rate cycling stability of 590.5 mAh g−1 at 1C after 150 cycles. And it can still charge and discharge stably after 100 cycles at 0.2C and has a remarkable specific capacity of 959.2 mA h g−1.