Lithium insertion into Sn- and SnSbx-based composite electrodes in solid polymer electrolytes

Lithium insertion into Sn and SnSbx metallic hosts and the subsequent cycling behavior in polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes are examined. inserted lithium can hardly be extracted from the electrode constituted by coarse tin powder due to the electrical isolation after dramatic host volume changes. Decreasing the host particle size and using intermetallic SnSbx alloy powders greatly enhance the electrode Li extraction capacity and its retention on cycling. The high irreversible capacity in the first cycle linked to the use of ultrafine host powders is compensated by introducing a certain amount of Li2.6Co0.4N into the electrode. Some factors influencing the cell performance are presented and discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.