How amorphous are the tin alloys in li-inserted tin oxides?

Several different metal oxides based anode systems are compared to give insight into their cycling behaviour. The simple electrochemical model for these systems does not usefully predict the ability for a battery to cycle. Pb and Zn oxides cycle less well than Sn oxides, and show more initial crystallinity. SnF₂ and PbF₂ cycle less well than SnO and PbO. Cubic SnP₂O₇ cycles better than the layered polymorph. The nature and structure of the supporting matrix is therefore important in the ability of the tin oxides to cycle. Any material with observable crystallinity in first cycle, will not cycle well. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16–22, 2001.