Nanostructured Sn-C composite as an advanced anode material in high-performance lithium-ion batteries

In this work we disclose an electrode based on a formulation which differs from all those previously cited. The novelty of our approach is in the specific and unique structural feature of this electrode which, rather than the above discussed sets of nanoparticles or multicomponent alloys, involves metal nanoparticles finely dispersed in a supporting matrix. This results in an apparent micrometer-scale configuration which prevents particle aggregation and avoids safety hazard, still maintaining the benefit of nanodimensions in controlling the mechanical strain. We show that this configuration, here applied to a system based on tin as the metal component and on carbon as the supporting matrix, yields electrodes capable of delivering full and stable capacity for a life extending over hundreds of cycles. The results are very promising, suggesting that the new approach may eventually lead to a successful use of lithium-metal storage alloys as anodes in practical lithiumion batteries.