Highly patterned cylindrical Ni–Sn alloys with 3-dimensionally ordered macroporous structure as anodes for lithium batteries

Highly patterned cylindrical Ni–Sn alloy anode with 3-dimesionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) structure was successfully prepared by colloidal crystal templating method combined with electroplating method using photoresist substrate. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that 3DOM cylinders of Ni–Sn alloy electrode composed of uniform interconnected macropores with the size of 1.0 μm diameter. The size of macropores in porous Ni–Sn cylinders was in good agreement to the sizes of PS bead used as templates. The charge and discharge curves of cylindrical Sn–Ni alloys with 3DOM structure showed a potential plateau at around 0.4 V vs. Li/Li+, indicating the lithiation and delithiation processes to (/from) Sn in porous Ni–Sn alloy anode. The cycle performance of prepared Ni–Sn alloy was tested in a course of controlling the state of charge (SOC). Ni–Sn alloy anode cycle-test at the condition of 67% SOC showed an excellent cycle stability even at 200 cycles, and the coulombic efficiency was more than 99%.