TERNARY SNSB-ZNO NANO-COMPOSITE AS A POTENTIAL ANODE MATERIAL FOR HIGH ENERGY DENSITY LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

Abstract

Novel ternary Sn-Sb-ZnO nano-composites were synthesized using mechanochemical activation technique. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have drawn pervasive attention in compact devices and hybrid electric vehicles because of their high-power density along with enhanced levels of energy density. Alloy type anode materials, especially anode materials which are based on or form compounds with Sn- and Sb- have presented themselves as a possible and sustainable replacement of graphite. Lithium forms alloy with elements Sn and Sb. The resulting compounds were examined and the theoretical specific capacities of “Li4.4Sn” and “Li3Sb” were found nearly to be equal to 991 mAh/g and 660 mAh/g, respectively. When metallic tin (Sn) attains the state of full lithiation i.e. Li4.4Sn, its theoretical capacity has been found to reach 990 mAh g-1. This makes a wide range of tin based compounds to be considered as potential anode material. Antimony being a close neighbor of Sn is also a potential anode material in the rudimentary form, as well as when it forms compounds. The lithiation/delithiation in antimony speeds up at a relatively low values of voltage range. Nano-sized Sn-Sb, when effectively used as an anode material can gain the advantages while overcoming the associated disadvantage of volume expansion problem with SnSb based anode materials.