Intermetallic insertion electrodes derived from NiAs-, Ni2In-, and Li2CuSn-type structures for lithium-ion batteries

The implications of designing intermetallic insertion electrodes for lithium-ion cells are discussed in terms of materials with the NiAs-, Ni2In-, and Li2CuSn-type structures. Specific reference is made to a recent announcement that lithium can be inserted topotactically into eta-Cu6Sn5 at approximately 400 mV above the potential of metallic lithium. These materials hold promise for developing a new family of electrode structures to replace carbon as the negative electrode in state-of-the-art lithium-ion cells. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.