Tin nanoparticles encapsulated in porous multichannel carbon microtubes: preparation by single-nozzle electrospinning and application as anode material for high-performance Li-based batteries.

Tin nanoparticles encapsulated in porous multichannel carbon microtubes (denoted as SPMCTs) were prepared by carbonization of electrospun PAN-PMMA-tin octoate nanofibers fabricated using a single-nozzle electrospinning technique. This material exhibited excellent characteristics for lithium ion battery anode applications in terms of reversible capacities, cycling performance, and rate capability. Undertaking such a production configuration allows the long-existing problem of obtaining a high packing density of tin particles while retaining sufficient spare space to buffer the volume variation during lithium alloying and dealloying processes to be properly addressed. Furthermore, the porous carbon shell preserves both the mechanical and chemical stability of the function-active Sn metal, which also serves as a highly conductive medium allowing Li(+) to access.