Aerosol flame deposition (AFD) was applied to synthesize nano-crystalline SnO2 powder from an aqueous precursor solution of tin (IV) chloride. To produce Sn/SnO2 composite powders, the synthesized SnO2 powders were heat-treated under a 5% H-2 and 95% Ar mixed gas atmosphere at a temperature of 600 degrees C for 1-4 h. The XRD, XPS and SAED confirmed that the nanocrystalline SnO2 and Sn/SnO2 composites were well synthesized without any impurity phases. The amount of Sn in the composite was increased by increasing the heat treatment time. The Sn/SnO2 composite heat-treated at a temperature of 600 degrees C for 1 h exhibited an improved cycling behavior compared to a pure SnO2 anode with an initial capacity of 1476 mAh g(-1) in the range of 0.01-1.2 V and maintained a reversible capacity above 327 mAh g(-1) for more than 15 cycles.

Keywords: Sn/SnO2; Aerosol flame deposition (AFD); Li ion battery; Anode