Facile synthesis of hierarchical CNF/SnO2/Ni nanostructures via self-assembly process as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Hierarchical carbon nanofibre (CNF)/SnO2/Ni nanostructures of graphitized carbon nanofibres and SnO2 nanocrystallines and Ni nanocrystallines have been prepared via divalent tin–alginate assembly on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres, controlled pyrolysis and ball milling. Fabrication is implemented in three steps: (1) formation of a tin–alginate layer on PAN fibres by coating sodium alginate on PAN in a water medium followed by polycondensation in SnCl2 solution; (2) heat treatment at 450°C in a nitrogen atmosphere; (3) ball milling the mixture of CNF/SnO2 fibres and Ni powder. The CNF/SnO2/Ni nanocomposite exhibits good lithium ion storage capacity and cyclability, providing a facile and low-cost approach for the large-scale preparation of anode materials for lithium ion batteries.