A Cellulose Derived Nanotubular MoO ₃ /SnO ₂ Composite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties

Abstract

Abstract A hierarchically nanotubular MoO 3 /SnO 2 composite was synthesized based on the layer‐by‐layer self−assemble process followed by a calcination treatment, employing natural cellulose substance (commercial filter paper) as structural scaffold. This nanocomposite is composed of molybdenum trioxide nanocrystallites immobilized as a thin layer on the tin oxide nanotube surface. As being utilized as a host material for lithium storage, the MoO 3 /SnO 2 nanocomposite exhibited high reversible specific capacity, good cyclability and enhanced rate performance as compared with the pure SnO 2 and MoO 3 counter materials. For the nanotubular MoO 3 /SnO 2 composite with 48.9 wt% MoO 3 content, it delivered an initial discharge capacity of 1930.6 mAh g −1 and a stable specific capacity of 1084.1 mAh g −1 after 100 discharge/charge cycles at a current density of 100 mA g −1 . The excellent lithium storage performance of the MoO 3 /SnO 2 composite is benefited from the sophisticated hierarchically three‐dimensional network structures and the synergistic interaction between MoO 3 and SnO 2 components upon repeated lithiation/delithiation processes.