Tin Nanoparticle Loaded Graphite Anodes for Li-Ion Battery Applications

Abstract

Nearly monosized Sn nanoparticles were produced by an in situ prepared single-source molecular precursor approach. The experimental conditions in the NaBH 4 reduction of (phen͒SnCl 4 (phen ϭ 1, 10 phenanthroline͒ in water were carefully controlled to produce two different particle size ranges, 2-5 nm ͑mean: 3.5 nm, standard deviation: 0.8 nm͒ and 7-13 nm ͑mean: 10.0 nm, standard deviation: 1.7 nm͒. The Sn nanoparticles were subsequently dispersed in graphite ͑KS6͒ and the application of the resulting nanocomposites as an active anode material for Li-ion batteries was explored. The graphite-Sn nanocomposites showed significant improvement in the cyclability of Sn over previously reported results. The cyclability improvement is believed to be due to the smallness of the Sn particles and their uniform distribution in a soft matrix ͑graphite͒ which, in addition to being a capable Li ϩ host, could also effectively buffer the specific volume changes in Sn-based Li storage compounds during charging (Li ϩ insertion͒ and discharging (Li ϩ extraction͒ reactions.

Highly Reversible Lithium Storage in Porous SnO2 Nanotubes with Coaxially Grown Carbon Nanotube Overlayers

“…Lithium foil was used as the counter electrode, and the electrolyte used was 1 M LiPF 6 in a 50:50 w/w mixture of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate. More details on the electrode preparation and cell assembly can be found elsewhere [26][27][28]. All cells were tested galvanostatically at the ∼ 0.5 C rate (0.3 mA cm -2 or 340 mA g -1 for SnO 2 -core/carbon-shell anode; 0.13 mA cm -2 or 180 mA g -1 for carbon nanotubes) and were charged (Li + insertion) and discharged (Li + …”

“…Common countermeasures include a more restricted operational window (with cut-off voltage < 0.9 V), [9,12] or the dispersion of Sn or SnO 2 as small particles in a stress-absorbing soft matrix. [10,11,14,[24][25][26][27] For example, carbonaceous materials have been used to extend the cyclability of SnO 2 successfully. [24][25][26][27] They are also able to store lithium ions to a different extent (depending on the degree of graphitization), thereby constituting a dual-host Li-storage system, in which the capacity decrease due to composition can be reduced.…”

Preparation and electrochemical performances of nanoscale FeSn2 as anode material for lithium ion batteries

“…These electrodes exhibited a higher capacity than the conventional carbonaceous anode (372 mAh g −1 ), but showed faster capacity fading due to the large volume change occurring (358%) during the formation of different Li-Sn phases [2]. In order to control the volume changes during Li insertion/extraction, several methods have been proposed, such as the use of nanoscale materials [3,4], the use of composite host materials instead of pure metal [5,6], and that of anodes bonded by conductive polymer or a carbon matrix [7,8]. But the most widely method is the use of alloys, and the intermetallic compounds are generally composed of Sn and a Li-inactive element such as Sn-Cu [9], Sn-Sb [10], * Corresponding author.…”

HRTEM observations on composites of tin and tin dioxide nanoparticles dispersed on carbon nanotubes by single-atoms-to-clusters method

“…fully and partially oxidized tin nanoparticles dispersed to MWNT, is expected to be effective stemming the degradation of the anode of lithium ion batteries during the repetition of charging and discharging [8].…”