Employment of SnO2:F@Ni3Sn2/Ni nanoclusters composites as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Surface modification of SnO 2 :F particles which obtained from a large-scale electron cyclotron resonance-metal organic chemical vapor deposition system was carried out by two consecutive processes: electroless plating processing and annealing. First, Ni film on the SnO 2 :F and Ni nanoclusters were observed after Ni electroless plating; the film on the SnO 2 :F was then converted to Ni 3 Sn 2 after annealing at 800 °C under an argon atmosphere. A Ni 3 Sn 2 bimetallic structure formed instead of NiO during the annealing process because of the presence of carbon impurities in SnO 2 :F. The surface-modified Ni 3 Sn 2 -covered SnO 2 :F with Ni nanoclusters (SnO 2 :F@Ni 3 Sn 2 /Ni-nc) was employed as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The inactive Ni in Ni 3 Sn 2 acts as a buffer matrix against the Sn active material during the charge-discharge reactions, enhancing the electrochemical performance. The Ni nanoclusters in SnO 2 :F@Ni 3 Sn 2 /Ni-nc perform dual functions: they not only improve the conductivity as the contacting media, but also increase the initial columbic efficiency by the decomposition of Li 2 O—an electrochemically irreversible material. An outstanding reversible capacity of 600.69 mA h g −1 and a coulombic efficiency of 99.23% for SnO 2 :F@Ni 3 Sn 2 /Ni-nc were observed at the 350 th cycle under 200 mA g −1 in the our experimental range.