Lithiation mechanism of new electrode material for lithium ion cells—the α-Fe2O3–SnO2 binary system

New electrode material for lithium ion cells using surface and intercalation reactions was found for the α-Fe2O3–SnO2 binary system. The solid solution was synthesized by a wet preparation method using a precipitation from alkaline solutions containing Fe3+, Sn4+ and SO42− ions. The lithium cells with α-(Fe2O3)0.7–(SnO2)0.3 cathode showed the discharge–charge capacity of 300 mA h g−1. The reaction mechanism was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the 57Fe and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both the intercalation and the surface reactions participate in the charge–discharge process.