Tin Microspheres Grown on Carbon Cloth as Binder-Free Integrated Anode for High Capacity Lithium Storage

High quality Sn microspheres were successfully synthesized on carbon cloth by a one-step chemical vapor deposition method. Used as a binder-free anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the three-dimensional integrated anode based on as-grown Sn microspheres on carbon cloth exhibited excellent performance for lithium storage with high capacity of more than 800mAhg^-1 even after 75cycles, as well as good cycling stability and rate capability. The good electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the microsized spheres, which have the appropriate size and structural symmetry to counteract the force of lithium insertion/extraction process, as well as to the binder-free integrated anode structure, which enhances the electrical conductivity and enlarges the available reaction surface. This simple strategy has the potential for large-scale production of other electrode materials for high performances in lithium-ion batteries.