Continuous Fabrication of Graphene-Tin Dioxide Materials through a Vapor Reaction Process

Graphene-tin dioxide (SnO_x) nanocomposites were prepared by tin tetrachloride (SnCl₄) and graphene oxides (GO) using a vapor reaction process. The SnCl₄ vapor was carried into the reaction chamber via flowed argon through a bubble method. GO was dispersed in a mixture of water and ethanol, injected into an argon flow, and was then carried into the reaction chamber. At high temperature (say 800-1000 °C), GO was directly reduced to graphene nanosheets, simultaneously, the reaction between SnCl₄ and water in a quartz tube resulted in graphene-tin dioxide nanocomposites. SEM and TEM observations indicate that the resultant materials are homogenous with SnO_x nanoparticles assembling into clusters that are either directly attached or loaded onto the graphene. Electrochemical testing demonstrated that as-prepared nanocomposites could effectively increase cyclic performance and rate capability of tin dioxide anode compared to pristine tin dioxide anode for lithium ion batteries.