Synthesis and Characterization of Spherical-Like Tin-Nickel Alloy as Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries

A kind of nanosized, spherical-like Sn-Ni alloy composite was synthesized by spray drying the ball-milled mixture of SnO 2 , NiO and Super P carbon to obtain the precursor, then the metal oxides were reduced by carbon at 900 °C for 2 hrs. The morphology of the sample shown by scanning electronic spectroscopy was spherical-like particle with a diameter below 200 nm. X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the sample contains the alloy phase of Ni 3 Sn 4 , Ni 2 Sn 2 and Ni 3 Sn, element phase of Ni and Sn, and compound phase SnO 2 . The charge/discharge test shows that the alloy shows a reversible capacity of 571.1mAh/g with capacity retention of 78.6% after 20 charge-discharge cycles. The improved performance was ascribed to the lower particle size, the higher contents of alloy phase, the binder styrene butadiene rubber to buffer the expansion of the alloy and the improved electric contact between active material and copper current collector.