ArticleZhou Y, Wang F, Jin X, Yang J, Du K, Feng T, Lei J.
Nanoscale. 2020 Aug 07;12(29):15697-15705.
An efficient and rapid method is reported for preparing ultra-fine and well-dispersed SnO2 nanoparticles in a large scale. A simple double hydrolysis reaction between SnO32- and Fe3+ ions was masterly used to form a stable colloid system, in which colloidal particles of H2SnO3 with negative charges and Fe(OH)3 with positive charges electrostatically interact with each other and form honeycomb-like "core-shell" units. Through the hydrothermal reaction, the units are easily transformed into SnO2@FeO(OH) structures. Ultra-fine and well-dispersed SnO2 particles with less than 6 nm diameter were finally obtained with a high yield by further etching using hydrochloric acid. When used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the ultra-fine SnO2 particles can be easily dispersed into the carbon networks originating from the carbon source of glucose during the hydrothermal reaction. Electrochemical tests confirmed that these ultra-fine SnO2/C materials were endowed with excellent cyclic stability and C-rate performance. Even at a 1.56 A g-1 (2C) high current density, the reversible capacity could be maintained at 710 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles owing to the ultra-fine particle size of SnO2 and the rich carbon networks.