A novel approach to explore Zn based anodes for lithium-ion battery applications

As an approach to investigate upon the electrochemical property of Zn as a possible lithium battery anode material, an ever first attempt to explore two types of Zn based alloy anodes, viz., Zn0.9Ni0.075In0.025 (nickel rich) and Zn0.9Ni0.025In0.075 (indium rich) was made. Citric acid assisted modified sol–gel method [CAM sol–gel] has been adopted to synthesize the anode materials at 500 °C and characterized further by XRD and SEM for phase purity and preferred surface morphology, respectively. An average crystallite size of 800 nm–1.2 μm has been calculated from the PXRD pattern and the compounds were found to exist in the cubic phase. A discharge capacity of 936 and 1155 mAh/g were exhibited by Zn0.9Ni0.075In0.025 and Zn0.9Ni0.025In0.075 anodes respectively, with an excellent capacity retention (>85%) and enhanced coulombic efficiency (95–98%). It is further understood that the Zn0.9Ni0.025In0.075 anode with increased In content has exhibited promising electrochemical property with a steady state reversible capacity of ∼490 mAh/g even after 25 cycles, compared to the corresponding nickel rich counterpart, viz., Zn0.9Ni0.075In0.025.