Fabrication and properties of three-dimensional macroporous Sn–Ni alloy electrodes of high preferential (1 1 0) orientation for lithium ion batteries

One of the most important problems in utilizing Sn-based intermetallic compound anodes is its poor cyclability due to mechanical fatigue caused by volume change during lithium insertion and extraction processes. To overcome this problem, a new facile procedure to prepare three-dimensional (3D) macroporous materials of Sn–Ni alloy by using colloidal crystal template method is presented. The structural and electrochemical characteristics of 3D macroporous Sn–Ni alloy were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), galvanostatic cycling. When used as a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, the 3D macroporous Sn–Ni alloy electrode delivered a reversible capacity of 536.1 mAh g−1 up to 75th cycles.