Development of high energy capacities of nanoscaled Sn–Cu alloy thin film electrode materials for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

A nanoscaled Sn–Cu alloy film material is intended to improve charge–discharge capacities with respect to the negative electrode in Li-ion batteries. Sn–Cu alloy film electrodes are prepared using sulfate electrolyte by a pulse current plating method. Pulse duty cycles of 10% at a frequency of 10Hz with a peak current density 1Adm−2 are employed. The electrochemical discharge–charge capacities of the lithium insertion process and the reversible charging process are 1058mAhg−1 and 612mAhg−1 in the initial cycling, respectively. Also, Coulombic efficiency was 87.2% at the end of the 30th cycle. Thus, nanoscaled Sn–Cu alloy film electrodes are good candidates for anode material in Li-ion rechargeable batteries.