Electroless-plated tin compounds on carbonaceous mixture as anode for lithium-ion battery

A composite anode materials was prepared that contained tin compounds of Sn6O4(OH)4, SnO2 and Sn3PO4 on the surface of carbonaceous mixture mesophase graphite particles (MGP) and nature graphite (NG). The nanosize tin compounds were electrolessly plated from aqueous solutions onto the carbonaceous mixture. The morphology and structure of tin compounds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the tin compounds particle size was a crucial factor to improve Sn compounds/Carbon composite anodes for cyclability and reversible capacity. The homogeneous dispersion and smaller particle size of tin compounds was attributed to the additive of NG. As the carbonaceous substrate was C–C mixture carbon, the particle size of Sn compounds was about 20–30 nm. However, the particle size was 100–200 nm, as the carbon substrate was singular MGP. Electrochemical performance test of the Sn compounds/C–C composite electrode shows the maximum specific charge capacity of 583 mAh g−1 at the 5th cycle. The charge capacity retention of Sn compounds/C–C electrode was 85% after 20 cycles. The reversible capacity of Sn compounds/C–C electrode increased 292 and 97 mAh g−1 more than pristine (NG + MGP) electrode and Sn compounds/C electrode at the 5th cycle, respectively.