Electrodeposition of Sn-Cu alloy anodes for lithium batteries

Electrodeposition and heat-treatment was attempted to directly obtain a Sn-Cu alloy anode with fine grain of crystals for lithium ion batteries. The preparation of Sn-Cu alloy anode started with pulsed electrochemically depositing tin on the substrate of copper foil collector, and a protection coating layer of copper was plated on the surface of deposited Sn. An alloy of tin and copper was formed when heated. The energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the copper and tin were partially alloyed to form Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn after annealing. The SEM analysis showed the uncoated electrode is cracked after a cycle and the copper coated electrode was not cracked after 50 cycles. The Cu-coated electrode presented the first cycle coulomb efficiency reaching 95% and good cycleability