Sn nanoparticles@nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber composites as high-performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries

Recently, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted increasing attention as an important supplement or alternative to lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of sodium resources and its much lower cost. A critical issue and great challenge in current battery research for the extensive application of SIBs is the development of earth-abundant and high-performance electrode materials. In various studies of these electrode materials, Sn-based nanocomposites have been identified as promising anodes for SIBs. In this study, Sn nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber composites (Sn@NCNFs) have been synthesized by an electrostatic spinning technique and used as anodes for SIBs. Morphological and structural characterizations indicate that the Sn nanoparticles adhere uniformly on the surface of the nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers. The corresponding specific capacity can reach over 600 mA h g−1 at 0.1C after 200 cycles. Additionally, these Sn@NCNFs also show excellent high-rate cycling performance and can maintain a capacity of up to 390 mA h g−1 even at an extremely high rate of 1C for over 1000 cycles. The results demonstrate that this Sn@NCNFs composite is a promising anode material with good reversible capacity and cycling performance for SIBs.