More importantly, the recent report revealed that the Si-based
anodes with pomegranate-like structure can tackle the main
challenges associated with structural degradation and instability
caused by the large volume change for LIBs [19]. Similarly, Fang
et al [20]. reported that a homogeneous composite of SnO2 anodes,
where 3–9 nm SnO2 nanoparticles are embedded in about 50 nm
diameter primary carbon nanospheres, can exhibit a high
capability and excellent cycling and rate performance, holding
great potential as a high-rate and stable anode material for lithium
storage. Here, our design is inspired by the structure of a
pomegranate and above reports. Cu particles decorated pomegranate-
structured SnO2@C (denoted as SnO2@C/Cu) composites
as anode materials for LIBs have been prepared by a simple
hydrothermal reaction coupled with wet-chemical reduction.
These SnO2@C/Cu anodes provided with the unique architectures
exhibit outstanding lithium battery performance with a capacity of
660 mAh g1 tested at 600 mA g1 after 50 cycles and good rate
performance at room temperature. Compared with the pure
SnO2@C, SnO2@C/Cu anodes exhibited obviously better low-
temperature electrochemical performance including reversible
capacity, cycling performance, and rate performance. In addition,
new insights on the impedance analysis for enhanced mechanism
are provided.