SnO2/C composites fabricated by a biotemplating method from cotton and their electrochemical performances

Biomorphic SnO2/C composites were synthesized by a facile biotemplating method using natural cotton as the structure template and the bio-carbon source. The content of carbon in the composites could be easily adjusted by varying the sintering temperature. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the content of carbon in the obtained composites had great effects on their electrochemical performances, such that the biomorphic SnO2/C composites prepared at 300 °C exhibited a reversible capacity of 530 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. The results suggest that the obtained biomorphic SnO2/C composites prepared by the facile approach may be used as anode materials in practical lithium-ion batteries.