Issue 45, 2017

Uniform core–shell Cu6Sn5@C nanospheres with controllable synthesis and excellent lithium storage performances

Abstract

Metallic tin (Sn) is one of the most promising alternatives to graphite anodes for lithium ion batteries due to its higher theoretical capacity, higher packing density and safer thermodynamic potential, while the huge volume transformation during repeated cycling leads to rapid pulverization and consequently poor capacity retention. This work provides an easy-to-control method to prepare uniform core–shell Cu6Sn5@C nanospheres in which Cu@Sn cores (40–50 nm in diameter) are well encapsulated by PANI-derived carbon layers with a thickness of ∼5 nm. The obtained Cu6Sn5@C exhibits an excellent cycling ability and good rate capabilities. Both the reversible capacity (518 mA h g−1) after 100 cycles and the initial coulombic efficiency (89.2%) are the highest values in Cu6Sn5-based materials. The impressive cycling performance is believed to result from the carbon coating that not only prevents particle agglomeration during the synthesis but also accommodates the vast structural transformation of the Cu6Sn5 nanocores during the electrochemical (de)lithiation process, so ensuring good ionic and electronic transport to the core. The effect of synthesis conditions on the composition are also investigated systematically.

Graphical abstract: Uniform core–shell Cu6Sn5@C nanospheres with controllable synthesis and excellent lithium storage performances

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Feb 2017
Accepted
13 Apr 2017
First published
30 May 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 28399-28406

Uniform core–shell Cu6Sn5@C nanospheres with controllable synthesis and excellent lithium storage performances

L. Su, J. Fu, P. Zhang, L. Wang, Y. Wang and M. Ren, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 28399 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA02214J

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