Synthesis of Carbon/Tin Composite Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Novel structural carbon/tin composites were prepared using a solution polymerization route followed by high-temperature carbon thermal reduction. Powder X-ray diffraction confirms that only metallic tin is detected in these composites. TEM images show that the metallic tin is uniformly embedded into the carbon matrix. The physical sorption analysis indicates that the composites have a hierarchical pore system. The carbon/tin composites exhibit high reversible capacity and good cycleability when used as anode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The carbon/tin composite material with tin content of 55 wt% carbonized at 600 degrees C exhibits the optimal electrochemical performance with a high initial reversible capacity of 1111 mAh g(-1), and 869 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g(-1), giving a capacity retention of 78.2%. Moreover, increasing the carbonization temperature to 700 degrees C can further improves the first coulombic efficiency and capacity retention, but decreases the initial capacity of the anode material. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.046202jes] All rights reserved.