The Anode Challenge for Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Mechanochemically Synthesized Sn-Fe-C Composite Anode Surpasses Graphitic Carbon.
Carbon-based anodes are the key limiting factor in increasing the volumetric capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Tin-based composites are one alternative approach. Nanosized Sn-Fe-C anode materials are mechanochemically synthesized by reducing SnO with Ti in the presence of carbon. The optimum synthesis conditions are found to be 1:0.25:10 for initial ratio of SnO, Ti, and graphite with a total grinding time of 8 h. This optimized composite shows excellent extended cycling at the C/10 rate, delivering a first charge capacity as high as 740 mAh g-1and 60% of which still remained after 170 cycles. The calculated volumetric capacity significantly exceeds that of carbon. It also exhibits excellent rate capability, delivering volumetric capacity higher than 1.6 Ah cc-1over 140 cycles at the 1 C rate.
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Zhixin
Z
Dong
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Ruibo
R
Zhang
Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Dongsheng
D
Ji
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Natasha A
NA
Chernova
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA; Center for Functional Nanomaterials Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton NY 11973 USA.
Khim
K
Karki
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Shawn
S
Sallis
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
Louis
L
Piper
Materials Science and Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA; Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902-6000 USA.
M Stanley
MS
Whittingham
Sn2Fe; anode; high energy ball mill; lithium‐ion battery; volumetric capacity