title: One-step electrochemical growth of a three-dimensional Sn-Ni@PEO nanotube array as a high performance lithium-ion battery anode.
abstract: Various well-designed nanostructures have been proposed to optimize the electrode systems of lithium-ion batteries for problems like Li(+) diffusion, electron transport, and large volume changes so as to fulfill effective capacity utilization and increase electrode stability. Here, a novel three-dimensional (3D) hybrid Sn-Ni@PEO nanotube array is synthesized as a high performance anode for a lithium-ion battery through a simple one-step electrodeposition for the first time. Superior to the traditional stepwise synthesis processes of heterostructured nanomaterials, this one-step method is more suitable for practical applications. The electrode morphology is well preserved after repeated Li(+) insertion and extraction, indicating that the positive synergistic effect of the alloy nanotube array and 3D ultrathin PEO coating could authentically optimize the current volume-expansion electrode system. The electrochemistry results further confirm that the superiority of the Sn-Ni@PEO nanotube array electrode could largely boost durable high reversible capacities and superior rate performances compared to a Sn-Ni nanowire array. This proposed ternary hybrid structure is proven to be an ideal candidate for the development of high performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Daqian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: conformal coating; electrochemical performance; lithium-ion battery; nanotube array; tin-based anode