Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Electrolytic Sn-containing thin films as anode for lithium-ion batteries
Shmatok Yu.V.1, Sirosh V.A.1, Globa N.I.1, Babenkov E.A.2, 
Nikitenko V.M.2, Kublanovsky V.S2
1 Joint Department оf Electrochemical Energy Systems оf the NAS оf Ukraine. Vernadsky blvd, 38а, Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine. 
E-mail: gnl-n@ukr.net 
2 Vernadsky Institute of General & Inorganic Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine. Academic Palladin avenue, 32/34, Kyiv, 03142, Ukraine.

Tin and tin-based alloys are promising candidates for use as anode for lithium-ion batteries. It is associated with their high theoretical specific capacity (up to 994 mAh/g for pure tin) and low operating voltage (below 0.6 V vs. Li/Li+).
In this work thin electrolytic deposits of tin and tin-containing alloys (Sn-Ni and Sn-Co) have been investigated as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. The influence of the composition of poly-ligand electrolytes and conditions of the electrolysis on the surface and structural characteristics of the thin deposits obtained has been determined.
Electrochemical studies were carried out in 2016-type coin cells in with a lithium counter electrode and an aprotic electrolyte based on solutions of lithium salts (LiPF6 or LiN(CF3SO2)2) in a mixtures of carbonate solvents (ethylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate). Using potentiodynamic and galvanostatic cycling methods, the influence of the composition and mass of thin films on the specific capacity, its stability during cycling and high discharge rates has been established.
The results of galvanostatic cycling show that the specific capacity of thin films of different composition varies from 400 to 1200 mAh/g, decreasing in the series Sn > Sn-Ni > Sn-Co, and strongly depends on the mass (thickness) of deposits. Thin-layer deposits of both tin and tin alloys (with the mass up to 0.5 mg/cm2) have better stability of specific capacity during cycling and discharge at high current rates