Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of porous SnO₂ micro-tubes as anode material for lithium-ion battery

Porous SnO₂ micro-tubes were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of SnC₂O₄ precursor. The morphology of SnC₂O₄ could be preserved after the controlled heat treatment and a lot of mesopores left due to the release of gases. The mesoporous nature with a range of 3-50 nm was characterized by BET method. SEM images showed that the obtained SnO₂ samples were rhombic tube-like with swallow-tailed nozzles. When the porous SnO₂ micro-tubes were used as anode materials for lithium-ion battery, they exhibited high lithium storage capacity and coulomb efficiency. In addition, CV results demonstrated that the formation of Li₂O at high voltage was partially reversible reactions.