Preparation of nanocomposite alumina-Sn2Fe by mechanical alloying

Nanocomposites of Al2O3 and Sn2Fe were prepared by ball milling alumina with elemental Sn and Fe. Samples were prepared with molar ratios of Al2O3 and Sn2Fe of 1:1 and 2:1. Materials produced in this way have been characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques as well as 57Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy as a function of milling time. The nanosized grains show a distribution of particle sizes along with some residual elemental components. Preliminary investigations of electrochemical cells indicate that these materials show promise as possible electrodes for Li-ion cells.