Preparation and performance of SnO2 nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanofibers as anodes for lithium-ion battery.

• SnO 2 nanoparticles are encapsulated in nanofibers by electrospinning. • The nanofiber structure facilitates the passage of charges through the channel. • Such nanochannels reduce the effect of large volume changes during the cycle. • SnO 2 @CNFs-0.35 show outstanding cyclic performance and reversible capacity. With the improvement of energy demand, the requirements for energy storage systems are becoming increasingly high, such as high capacity and environmental friendliness. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new electrode materials to meet the requirements. Tin is a low-cost electrode with low working potential and high volume to mass ratio. However, in the first circulation of lithium battery, large volume changes are likely to cause capacity loss. Thus, we designed the use of electrospinning to encapsulate SnO 2 in nanofibers, forming channels that facilitate charge passage and reducing the impact of significant volume changes during cycling. The results show that the capacity of SnO 2 @CNFs-0.35 can still reach 197.6 mA h g−1 after 3000 charge–discharge cycles at 1A g−1 current density, and the capacity retention rate can still reach nearly 99% after 3000 cycles. It shows outstanding cycling stability and high reversible capacity. The simple synthesis method and good electrochemical performance make SnO 2 @CNFs-0.35 an ideal candidate material for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]