A SnSb–C nanocomposite as high performance electrode for lithium ion batteries

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 54; no. 19; pp. 4441 - 4444
• Main Authors: Hassoun, Jusef, Derrien, Gaelle, Panero, Stefania, Scrosati, Bruno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30.07.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloying; Amorphous carbon; Anode; Antimony; Applied sciences; Battery; Carbon; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Lithium; Lithium batteries; Lithium iron phosphate; Nanostructure; Phosphates; Tin; Amorphous carbon; Anode; Battery; Tin; Lithium iron phosphate; Antimony; Nanostructure; Tin alloy; Antimony alloy; Electrode material; Composite material; Surface structure; Electrodes; Nanocomposite; Scanning electron microscopy; Iron Phosphates; Secondary cell; Amorphous state; Carbon; X ray diffraction; Quaternary compound; Morphology; Lithion ion batteries; Lithium Phosphates; Performance
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2009.03.027

A tin antimony based electrode has been synthesized in the form of nanometric particles housed into the pores of a protective, amorphous carbon matrix. Electrochemical results, obtained using this material as the working electrode in a lithium cell, suggested that the electrochemical process involves both SnSb intermetallic and Sn metal, present in the carbon matrix. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the optimized nanostructure prevents the mechanical drawbacks, associated with the volume changes during the alloying processes, which normally affect this class of materials. Finally, a lithium ion battery based on the SnSb–C electrode as the anode and lithium iron phosphate, LiFePO 4, as the cathode , showed very promising performance.