Ultra-thin N-doped carbon coated SnO2 nanotubes as anode material for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Highlights: • Tin dioxide nanotubes coated with ultrathin N-doped carbon film were developed. • It involves a sacrificial template method and a subsequent carbon coating process. • The SnO₂/C NTs exhibit high stable capacity and high rate performance. • High performance is due to the hollow structure and carbon coating. Tin dioxide nanotubes coated with ultrathin N-doped carbon film (N-doped SnO₂/C NTs) are prepared through a sacrificial template method for the first time. It was employed as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and delivered a high reversible capacity of 909.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ after 200 cycles, outstanding stability 551.7 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹, and excellent rate performance of 1069.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 280 cycles. Such superior electrochemical performance is owning to the N-doped carbon coating which improved the conductivity of the NTs, which is essential for higher performance LIBs. The special designed whole nanotube structure provides extensive surface and pores to accommodate Li, meanwhile, prohibited the volume expansion during cycling test. The electrochemical performance of pouch-type cells further demonstrates the SnO₂/C NTs as a promising candidate for LIBs anode. This study has shed a light on the LIB anode materials design and preparation and made such hollow nanostructured materials a potential candidate to replace commonly used graphite materials.