Reconfigurable plug-and-play assembly for the continuous production of composite anodes for modulating lithium storage.

Graphical abstract Modulating lithium storage was achieved by developing a single-pass plug-and-play assembly platform for the built-to-order manufacture of different composite anodes comprising a transition metal oxide, a carbon matrix, and a conductive polymer. Highlights • A plug-and-play assembly platform yielded lithium anodes with modulatable capacity. • The platform can be extended for on-demand manufacture of different lithium anodes. • The different architectures enabled the modulation of lithium storage performance. Abstract In this study, modulating lithium storage is achieved as a result of the built-to-order assembly of composite anodes by the serial connection of reconfigurable plug-and-play devices in an ambient atmosphere. In this assembly, spark ablation, mechanical spraying, and ultraviolet exposure devices are connected in series, as well as the turning of devices, under a continuous air flow, affording composite anodes in less than 15 s. Specifically, SnO 2 nanoparticles prepared from spark ablation are carried by air flow, and the flow is injected into a mechanical spray system to generate carbon nanotube–graphene nanosheet/polyaniline slurry droplets, where SnO 2 nanoparticles are inserted into the droplets via gas pressurization at the spray nozzle. Subsequently, the droplets are passed through a 254-nm ultraviolet lamp and a silica–gel–installed hollow tube for dynamic stiffening and drying to form SnO 2 -carbon nanotube–graphene nanosheet/polyaniline composites in a single-pass air flow. In addition, different composites such as SnO 2 -carbon nanotube (or graphene nanosheet)/polyaniline, SnO 2 CuO-carbon nanotube–graphene nanosheet/polyaniline, and SnO 2 Co 3 O 4 -carbon nanotube–graphene nanosheet/polyaniline are conveniently assembled by the reconfiguration of metal oxide nanoparticles or carbon/polymer slurries in the plug-and-play operation. These composites are suitable as anodes for lithium storage and enabled the modulation of specific capacities, rate capabilities, and cyclabilities by employing different architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]