Fabrication of Tin-Cobalt/Carbon Composite Electrodes by Electrodeposition Using Cationic Surfactant for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Sn-Co alloy and Sn-Co/C composite are fabricated on the nodule-type Cu substrate by co-electrodeposition process using the pulse current in the pyrophosphate bath, and then their cycling performances are examined. To modify the surface property of carbon (acetylene black) particles and improve the dispersion of agglomerated carbon particles, CTAB (Cetrimonium bromide (C16H33)N(CH3)(3)Br) as a cationic surfactant is added into the electrodeposition bath.10.1007/s13391-016-6077-2 By addition of the CTAB, the amount of the carbon content in the Sn-Co/C composite is increased, and also the carbon particles are uniformly distributed in the Sn-Co electrodeposit. The Sn0.6Co0.4 alloy and (Sn0.6Co0.4)(0.71)/C-0.29 composite are obtained after annealing as the final products. The (Sn0.6Co0.4)(0.71)/C-0.29 composite anode exhibits better the capacity retention than the Sn0.6Co0.4 alloy anode due primarily to the role of the well-dispersed carbon particles as the second buffer phase and electrical conductive path in the Sn-Co/C composite during cycling