Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of SnC2O4/graphene composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Currently, SnC₂O₄ is considered as one of the most promising anode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because its charge capacity is higher than that of metal oxides. Herein, a facile microwave-assisted solvothermal method was employed to obtain SnC₂O₄/GO composites within only 30?min, which is time-efficient. The amount of SnC₂O₄ was increased to 95.3?wt% to improve the capacity of the composite. Pure SnC₂O₄ with a high specific surface area of 19.6?m² g^?1 without any other tin compound was used for fabrication. The SnC₂O₄/GO composite exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, with reversible discharge/charge capacity of 657/659?mA?h?g^?1 after 100 cycles at 0.2?A?g^?1. Furthermore, at high current densities of 1.0 and 2.0?A?g^?1, the SnC₂O₄/GO composite anode exhibited high reversible discharge/charge capacities of 553/552 and 418/414?mA?h?g^?1, respectively, after 200 cycles at room temperature. These improvements were likely obtained because SnC₂O₄ was well composited with graphene, which not only offered rapid electron transfer but also released the tension produced by the volumetric effect during repeated lithiation/delithiation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was also performed to further study the electrochemical reactions of SnC₂O₄/GO. The facile microwave-assisted solvothermal method used herein is considered as a highly efficient method to fabricate metal oxalate/graphene composites for use as anode materials in LIBs.