SnO₂/carbon nanotube nanocomposites synthesized in supercritical fluids: highly efficient materials for use as a chemical sensor and as the anode of a lithium-ion battery

Abstract

SnO2/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared via oxidation of SnCl2 in a supercritical CO2?methanol mixture containing MWCNTs. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was indicated that SnO2 nanoparticles with size of 3?5?nm were uniformly and tightly decorated on the MWCNTs. The chemiluminescence characteristic to H2S and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared SnO2/MWCNT composites were investigated. The SnO2/MWCNT composites exhibited extremely high efficiency for detecting H2S, and also displayed good electrochemical performance as the anode material in a lithium-ion battery.