Co-Sn Nanocrystalline Solid Solutions as Anode Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries with High Pseudocapacitive Contribution

Abstract

Co-Sn solid-solution nanoparticles with Sn crystal structure and tuned metal ratios were synthesized by a facile one pot solution-based procedure involving the initial reduction of a Sn precursor followed by incorporation of Co within the Sn lattice. These nanoparticles were used as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. Among the different compositions tested, Co_0.7 Sn and Co_0.9 Sn electrodes provided the highest capacities with values above 1500 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g^-1 after 220 cycles, and up to 800 mAh g^-1 at 1.0 A g^-1 after 400 cycles. Up to 81 % pseudocapacitance contribution was measured for these electrodes at a sweep rate of 1.0 mV s^-1 , thereby indicating fast kinetics and long durability. The excellent performance of Co-Sn nanoparticle alloy-based electrodes was attributed to both the small size of the crystal domains and their suitable composition, which buffered volume changes of Sn and contributed to a suitable electrode restructuration.

Keywords: anode; bimetallic nanoparticles; colloidal; lithium-ion batteries; solid solutions.