Facile fabrication of graphene/Cu6Sn5 nanocomposite as the high performance anode material for lithium ion batteries

•Graphene/Cu6Sn5 nanocomposite is prepared via a facile one-pot method.•The buffer effects of copper, graphene, and hollow structure are combined.•This composite delivers excellent long-term (∼1700 cycles) cycling stability.•High rate (merely 80s for discharge or charge) capability is obtained. Graphene/Cu6Sn5 nanocomposite is successfully prepared via a facile one-pot method. Cu6Sn5 nanoparticles with the average size below 10nm are homogeneously encapsulated into graphene nanosheets. Inactive Cu can release the volume expansion of Sn, prevent Sn from aggregation, and accommodate structural stress. Graphene can enhance mechanical properties, prevent the aggregation between Cu6Sn5 nanoparticles, and provide enough void space to buffer volume change of Cu6Sn5. Part of Cu6Sn5 nanoparticles possesses hollow structure, which is also favorable for volume buffer and stress accommodation. Due to such intriguing structure, it delivers great long term cycling stability and excellent high rate performance. Up to 411.4mAhg−1 is obtained after 1600 cycles at a high current density of 500mAg−1. The reversible capacity is as large as 220mAhg−1 at 10,000mAg−1 (merely 80s for discharge or charge).