A broad pore size distribution mesoporous SnO 2 as anode for lithium-ion batteries

We demonstrate here that mesoporous tin dioxide (abbreviated M-SnO2) with a broad pore size distribution can be a prospective anode in lithium-ion batteries. M-SnO2 with pore size ranging between 2 and 7.5 nm was synthesized using a hydrothermal procedure involving two different surfactants of slightly different sizes, and characterized. The irreversible capacity loss that occurs during the first discharge and charge cycle is 890 mAh g-1, which is smaller than the 1,010-mAh g-1 loss recorded for mesoporous SnO2 (abbreviated S-SnO2) synthesized using a single surfactant. After 50 cycles, the discharge capacity of M-SnO2 (504 mAh g-1) is higher than that of S-SnO2 (401 mAh g-1) and solid nanoparticles of SnO2 (abbreviated nano-SnO2