Autogenic synthesis of SnO2 materials and their structural, electrochemical, and optical properties

During autogenic reactions, organometallic precursors are decomposed above their critical temperature within an enclosed chamber at high temperatures and pressures. It has recently been established that such reactions can be used to synthesize carbon-coated metal oxide and metal phosphate nanoparticles. These materials are of interest as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. In this paper, we report the autogenic fabrication of a carbon-coated SnO2 product and a carbon-free SnO2 product after removal of the carbon coating by combustion. The major objectives of the study were to monitor any beneficial effects that carbon-coated electrodes containing a lithium alloying element such as Sn might have in improving the electrical connectivity between electrode particles, which expand and contract significantly on lithiation and delithiation, and their utility in lithium cells. Specifically, we report the compositional, structural and morphological properties, and electrochemical behavior of carbon-coated SnO2 electrodes. Given the importance of the optical properties of SnO2, we also describe the effects of the carbon coating on the optical absorbance and photoluminescence of autogenically-prepared SnO2 materials.