Energy Technology

Cover Picture: Disproportionated Tin Oxide and Its Nanocomposite for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes (Energy Technol. 6/2015)

Disproportionation of SnO: The cover image shows a simple, fast, inexpensive, and scalable method of transforming solid tin oxide (SnO) into a Sn/SnO₂/C nanocomposite, which consists of disproportionated amorphous Sn (sub 3 nm) and nanocrystalline SnO₂ (5–15 nm) within an amorphous carbon matrix. Specifically, the disproportionated Sn/SnO₂/C nanocomposite was developed based on the unstable characteristics of solid SnO at all temperatures. As described in the Full Paper on page 658 by Jae-Wan Park and Cheol-Min Park of the Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Korea, the process is aimed at obtaining high-performance anode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Upon use as an anode material in rechargeable Li-ion batteries, the disproportionated Sn/SnO₂/C nanocomposite showed excellent electrochemical performance, with high initial energy density, a relatively good initial coulombic efficiency, long cycling stability, and a fast rate capability. Additionally, the disproportionation reaction of SnO was thoroughly investigated using various analytical techniques, which should be of broad interest to the field of materials chemistry.

Read Full Text  | Table of Contents