Facile synthesis of hierarchical CNF/SnO 2 /Ni nanostructures via self-assembly process as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Hierarchical carbon nanofibre (CNF)/SnO2 /Ni nanostructures of graphitized carbon nanofibres and SnO2 nanocrystallines and Ni nanocrystallines have been prepared via divalent tin-alginate assembly on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres, controlled pyrolysis and ball milling. Fabrication is implemented in three steps: (1) formation of a tin-alginate layer on PAN fibres by coating sodium alginate on PAN in a water medium followed by polycondensation in SnCl2 solution; (2) heat treatment at 450°C in a nitrogen atmosphere; (3) ball milling the mixture of CNF/SnO2 fibres and Ni powder. The CNF/SnO2 /Ni nanocomposite exhibits good lithium ion storage capacity and cyclability, providing a facile and low-cost approach for the large-scale preparation of anode materials for lithium ion batteries.