Infrared irradiation-assisted one-step synthesis of nanosized tin dioxide particles and particle size effect on lithium storage performance

SnO2 nanoparticles with four different sizes of ∼5, ∼11, ∼24, and ∼39 nm were synthesized using infrared irradiation and thermal treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the particles had tetragonal rutile structure (cassiterite SnO2), and the more lattice defects were present in the as-prepared SnO2 samples. TEM and FT-IR spectra revealed that at 673 K, the disperse SnO2 nanospheres began to aggregate to form bigger size clusters; the oblate spheroids must appear. Electrochemical tests showed that particle size had a significant influence on the lithium ion insertion/desertion properties, and the ∼11 nm-sized SnO2 nanoparticles electrodes had a superior capacity and cycling stability as compared to the ∼5, ∼24, and ∼39 nm-sized ones.