Impact on Anode Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries by Deep Cryogenic Treated SnSb/C Nanofiber Derived From Inorganic Precursors

Abstract The major obstacle prohibiting the practical application of Sn-based anodes is drastic volume variation during cycling processes. Here, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was acted as a carbon source, and stannic chloride pentahydrate (SnCl4·5H2O) and antimony chloride (SbCl3) were used as SnSb precursors. SnSb/C nanofibers were prepared via simple electrospinning, deep cryogenic treatment, and carbonization, and it is applied in anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to achieve excellent cycle performance (115.5% capacity retention for 100 cycles). The improvement of electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of deep cryogenic treated special SnSb/C nanofibers precursor. In the deep cryogenic treatment process, the crystalline water in the precursor has a pore-forming effect, and the porous nanofiber structure leads to the phenomenon of capacity increase. The above results indicate that comprehensive consideration of deep cryogenic treatment and nanofiber precursors is a new idea to enhance the electrochemical performance of LIBs anode materials.