Chemical reduction of nano-scale Cu2Sb powders as anode materials for Li-ion batteries

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 1538 - 1541
• Main Authors: Ren, Jianguo, He, Xiangming, Pu, Weihua, Jiang, Changyin, Wan, Chunrong
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Anode; Antimony alloy; Electrode material; Copper Antimonides; Discharge charge cycle; Powder; Surface structure; Chemical reduction; Nanometer scale; Potassium Tetrahydroborates; Binary alloy; Electrical characteristic; Copper alloy; Scanning electron microscopy; Cu2Sb alloy anode; Nano-scale; Cycling; Secondary cell; X ray diffraction; Li-ion batteries; Morphology; Preparation; Lithion ion batteries; Aqueous solution; Specific capacity
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2006.01.084

A novel process was attempted to prepare nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy powders as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The preparation started with chemical reduction of Cu2Sb in an aqueous solution with sodium citrate as a complexing agent and KBH4 as a reducer. The analysis of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction showed that as-prepared nano-scale Cu2Sb powders presented tetragonal structure with particle size of 50-70 nm. Cycling between 0 and 1.2 V, the nano-scale Cu2Sb alloy showed good cyclability with a stable specific capacity of 200 mAh g-1 within 25 cycles.