Anodic behaviour and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of ternary tin oxides

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2005-01, Vol.139 (1), p.250-260
• Main Authors: Sharma, N., Shaju, K.M., Rao, G.V. Subba, Chowdari, B.V.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anode material; Applied sciences; ASnO 3 (A = Sr, Ba); Ca 2SnO 4; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrochemical performance; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Lithium-ion battery; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.06.057

The compounds SrSnO 3, BaSnO 3 and Ca 2SnO 4 have been synthesized by solid-state and/or sol–gel methods, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their electrochemical properties studied as cathodes versus Li metal in the range 0.005–1.0 V. ASnO 3 (A = Sr, Ba), adopt the perovskite structure whereas Ca 2SnO 4 has the Sr 2PbO 4 structure. The discharge capacities (mAh g −1) (moles of equivalent Li) on the 20th cycle at a current rate of 30 mA g −1 are: SrSnO 3 (solid-state) (144 (1.4)), SrSnO 3 (sol–gel) (222 (2.1)), BaSnO 3 (solid-state) (190 (2.2)), BaSnO 3 (sol–gel) (156 (1.8)) and Ca 2SnO 4 (247 (2.4)). The SrSnO 3 (sol–gel) with nano-particle morphology displays better galvanostatic cycling performance than SrSnO 3 (solid-state). The cycling behaviour of SrSnO 3 and BaSnO 3 is inferior to that of Ca 2SnO 4 and CaSnO 3, which demonstrates that ‘Ca’ is superior as a matrix element than Sr or Ba. The inferior electrochemical performance of Ca 2SnO 4 in comparison to CaSnO 3 reveals that the higher Ca:Sn ratio in the former is not advantageous and the perovskite structure is preferable to that of Sr 2PbO 4 structure. The coulombic efficiencies are >98% in all cases. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) compliments the observed cycling behaviour.