Effects of oxygen vacancies on the electrochemical performance of tin oxide

Using an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope, we observed the oxygen vacancies, profiled the concentration in the SnO2−δ nanocrystals on an atomic scale, and estimated the amount of oxygen vacancies to be ca. 3.3 atom%. The SnO2−δ nanocrystals show much improved initial Coulombic efficiency, rate capability and specific capacity compared with stoichiometric SnO2 when used as an anode material for lithium ion batteries.