Evidence of Copper Separation in Lithiated Cu6Sn5 Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

Intermetallics such as Cu6Sn5, NiSi2, and CuGa2 etc., are promising candidate materials to replace carbon-based lithium-ion battery anodes. However, the lithiation reactions of these anodes often involve the separation of the inactive phases, a slow process that retards the lithiation kinetics and d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ACS applied energy materials 2020-01, Vol.3 (1), p.141-145
Main Authors: Tan, Xin F, Yang, Wenhui, Aso, Kohei, Matsumura, Syo, McDonald, Stuart D, Nogita, Kazuhiro
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Intermetallics such as Cu6Sn5, NiSi2, and CuGa2 etc., are promising candidate materials to replace carbon-based lithium-ion battery anodes. However, the lithiation reactions of these anodes often involve the separation of the inactive phases, a slow process that retards the lithiation kinetics and deactivates their role as a stress buffer. This research visualizes the separated Cu in a lithiated Cu6Sn5 anode by advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques. Cu nanospheres of 3–4 nm are found homogeneously distributed in both Li(13+y)Sn5 and Li13Cu6Sn5 phases, suggesting that Cu is transported by long-range diffusion from the reaction site at the Li(13+y)Sn5/Li13Cu6Sn5 phase boundaries.
ISSN:2574-0962
2574-0962
DOI:10.1021/acsaem.9b02014