Three-dimensional Ni3Sn4 Negative Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Three-dimensional alloy based Ni 3 Sn 4 negative electrodes were fabricated by simple electrodeposition technique on a mesoporous nickel foam substrate to improve the capacity and cyclability of Ni 3 Sn 4 anodes for lithium-ion batteries. The combination of thin film geometry with three-dimensional foam structure is aimed to optimize the ionic/electronic current paths, and to accommodate the mechanical stresses induced by the volume changes in the electrode during repeated cycling. The surface morphology of the obtained Ni 3 Sn 4 alloy electrodes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to characterize the phases and possible impurities present in the alloy. The electrochemical features of the electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge test experiments. Obtained results showed that the as-prepared three-dimensional Ni 3 Sn 4 anodes are capable of providing satisfactory lithium storage and promising cycling performance.