Reversible and high-capacity SnO₂/carbon cloth composite electrode materials prepared by magnetron sputtering for Li-ion batteries

The flexible electrode material of SnO₂/carbon cloth (SnO₂/CC) is fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering method. As an anode material of lithium ion batteries, the SnO₂/CC electrode exhibits more excellent cycling stability and rate capability than that of the pure carbon cloth and SnO₂. The reversible capacity always maintain about 1.98 mAh/cm² during 50 cycles, which is higher than that of the pure CC (about 1.61 mAh/cm²) and SnO₂ (about 0.08 mAh/cm²). After 100 cycles, the capacity of SnO₂/CC sample is 1.85 mAh/cm², still retaining 89.4% of the initial capacity. The good electrochemical properties of SnO₂/CC are mainly caused by the high surface area, porous structure and the intrinsic soft characteristics of CC, which can effectively accommodate the volume charge during charge and discharge process.