Small particle size multiphase Li-alloy anodes for lithium-ionbatteries

An impressive improvement of the cycling performance of Li-alloy anodes (M + Li⁺ +e⁻ Li_xM) in rechargeable organic electrolyte lithium batteries can be achieved by replacing compact or large particle size metallic host matrices M (e.g. Sn or Sb) with small particle size (micro- or nano-scale) multiphase metallic host materials like Sn/SnSb_n or Sn/SnAg_n. Electrochemical alloy deposition is a convenient way to prepare sub-micrometer particles of Sn and SnSb_n or Sn and SnAg_n. During the first lithium insertion these small particle size multiphase matrix materials are expanded to a porous material, however, without formation of major cracks. This seems not only to be related with the small absolute changes in the size of the individual particles, but also with the fact that the more reactive particles are allowed to expand in a soft and ductile surrounding of still unreacted material.