Surfactant-free microwave hydrothermal synthesis of SnO2 nanosheets as an anode material for lithium battery applications

SnO₂ nanosheets were synthesized using microwave hydrothermal method without using a surfactant and organic solvents. Formation of pure nanocrystalline rutile phase of SnO₂ sample was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) results and the average crystallite size of SnO₂ sample calculated using Scherrer's formula and XRD data is found to be 6 nm. HR-TEM, SAED and EDX results showed the formation of agglomerated nanosize sheets like morphology with high porous structured SnO₂ powder. Further, the formation of high porous structured SnO₂ powder was confirmed from BET surface area results (59.28 m² g^?1). The electrochemical performance of the lithium-ion battery made up of SnO₂ nanosheets, as an anode, was tested through the cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The galvanostatic charge-discharge results of the lithium-ion battery showed good discharge capacity of 257.8 mAh g^?1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g^?1. The improved electrochemical properties may be due to the formation of a unique nanosize sheets type morphology with high porous structured SnO₂ powder. High porous structured nanosize sheets type morphology of SnO₂ can help to reduce the diffusion length and sustain the volume changes during the charging-discharging process.Hence, high porous structured nanosize sheets morphology of SnO₂ prepared using the microwave hydrothermal method without using a surfactant and organic solvents can be a better anode material for lithium ion battery applications.