Electrodeposited Ni–Sn intermetallic electrodes for advanced lithium ion batteries

Various samples of NixSny metallic alloys electrodeposited under different current and time regimes have been prepared and tested in lithium cells. The results clearly demonstrate that the electrochemical performance of these intermetallic electrodes greatly depends on the synthesis conditions which in turn reflect on the type of morphology and phase of the various samples. The best electrode cycled with a high capacity delivery, i.e. of the order of 550 mA hg−1 and showed an efficient behaviour when used as anode in a lithium ion battery using LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 as cathode. These results confirm that the electrodeposition is a very promising synthesis tool for monitoring the morphological and phase conditions of NixSny and that the approach described in this work may be used for further optimizing this intermetallic electrode.