Fabricating iron-tin-oxide nanocomposite electrodes for sodium-ion batteries

Abstract

A novel iron-tin-based nanocomposite (FexSnyOz NCs) anode material has been synthesized via a simple galvanic replacement reaction method for applications in sodium-ion battery. The reactions for preparing FexSnyOz NCs were conducted at a high temperature between Fe3+ ions and Sn in triethylene glycol solvent. X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microscopic images of the synthesized NCs revealed the existence of Fe3O4 and SnO2 at the nanometer scale (<6 nm). The prepared NCs exhibited impressive capacity, good cycling stability, and excellent rate performance; for instance, FexSnyOz-18h NCs delivered a reversible discharge capacity of 215 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. The outstanding cycling performance is attributed to the presence of nanostructures and inactive phases serving as buffering spaces for the volume variation of the active materials during the alloying and conversion reactions. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.