Two‐Dimensional SnSe2/CNTs Hybrid Nanostructures as Anode Materials for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract Tin diselenide (SnSe 2 ), as an anode material, has outstanding potential for use in advanced lithium‐ion batteries. However, like other tin‐based anodes, SnSe 2 suffers from poor cycle life and low rate capability due to large volume expansion during the repeated Li + insertion/de‐insertion process. This work reports an effective and easy strategy to combine SnSe 2 and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form a SnSe 2 /CNTs hybrid nanostructure. The synthesized SnSe 2 has a regular hexagonal shape with a typical 2D nanostructure and the carbon nanotubes combine well with the SnSe 2 nanosheets. The hybrid nanostructure can significantly reduce the serious damage to electrodes that occurs during electrochemical cycling processes. Remarkably, the SnSe 2 /CNTs electrode exhibits a high reversible specific capacity of 457.6 mA h g −1 at 0.1 C and 210.3 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. At a cycling rate of 0.5 C, the SnSe 2 /CNTs electrode can still achieve a high value of 176.5 mA h g −1 , whereas a value of 45.8 mA h g −1 is achieved for the pure SnSe 2 electrode. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the SnSe 2 /CNTs electrode demonstrates its great potential for use in lithium‐ion batteries. Thus, this work reports a facile approach to the synthesis of SnSe 2 /CNTs as a promising anode material for lithium‐ion batteries.