Multiple Ambient Hydrolysis Deposition of Tin Oxide into Nanoporous Carbon To Give a Stable Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

A novel ambient hydrolysis deposition (AHD) methodology that employs sequential water adsorption followed by a hydrolysis reaction to infiltrate SnO₂ nanoparticles into the nanopores of mesoporous carbon in a conformal and controllable manner is introduced. The empty space in the SnO₂/C composites can be adjusted by varying the number of AHD cycles. An SnO₂/C composite with an intermediate SnO₂ loading exhibited an initial specific delithiation capacity of 1054 mAh g^?1 as an anode for Li‐ion batteries. The capacity contribution from SnO₂ in the composite electrode approaches the theoretical capacity of SnO₂ (1494 mAh g^?1) if both Sn alloying and SnO₂ conversion reactions are considered to be reversible. The composite shows a specific capacity of 573 mAh g^?1 after 300 cycles, that is, one of the most stable cycling performances for SnO₂/mesoporous carbon composites. The results demonstrated the importance of well‐tuned empty space in nanostructured composites to accommodate expansion of the electrode active mass during alloying/dealloying and conversion reactions.