Nanostructured hybrid of tin and lead oxides: synthesis and electrochemical properties.

Abstract

The paper describes a hybrid structure containing mixed oxides of tin and lead which has been synthesized by the method of pulsed high-voltage discharge. This material has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The hybrid material consists of SnO2 and PbO particles with an average size of ~350 nm, and SnPb2O4 nanowhiskers with a diameter up to 100 nm and several micrometers in length. The electrochemical behavior of hybrid structure as a potential anode of a lithium-ion battery have been investigated by the cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge in the potential range of 3.0–0.005 V. The reversible capacity of 821 mA·h/g was realized after 5-fold charge/discharge cycling at current density of 100 mA/g. It was established that further cycling of the hybrid structure is accompanied by a dramatic capacity fade: its value did not exceed 13 % of the initial one already after 10 charge/discharge cycles. The observed degradation in performance of hybrid material results from its inability to compensate sufficiently the crystal lattice stresses causing by repeated lithiation and delithiation.