title: Irradiated Graphene Loaded with SnO₂ Quantum Dots for Energy Storage.
abstract: Tin dioxide (SnO2) and graphene are unique strategic functional materials with widespread technological applications, particularly in the areas of solar batteries, optoelectronic devices, and solid-state gas sensors owing to advances in optical and electronic properties. Versatile strategies for microstructural evolution and related performance of SnO2 and graphene composites are of fundamental importance in the development of electrode materials. Here we report that a novel composite, SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) supported by graphene nanosheets (GNSs), has been prepared successfully by a simple hydrothermal method and electron-beam irradiation (EBI) strategies. Microstructure analysis indicates that the EBI technique can induce the exfoliation of GNSs and increase their interlayer spacing, resulting in the increase of GNS amorphization, disorder, and defects and the removal of partial oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of GNSs. The investigation of SnO2 nanoparticles supported by GNSs (SnO2/GNSs) reveals that the GNSs are loaded with SnO2 QDs, which are dispersed uniformly on both sides of GNSs. Interestingly, the electrochemical performance of SnO2/GNSs indicates that SnO2 QDs supported by a 210 kGy irradiated GNS shows excellent cycle response, high specific capacity, and high reversible capacity. This novel SnO2/GNS composite has potential practical applications in SnO2 electrode materials during Li(+) insertion/extraction.
authors.forename: Ruting
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong , Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dengyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Minghong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong , Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C M Lawrence
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong , Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chan-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shek
keywords: SnO2 quantum dots; electrochemical performance; electron-beam irradiation; graphene nanosheets; microstructural evolution