Mutual Independence Ensured Long-Term Cycling Stability: Template-Free Electrodeposited Sn4Ni3 Nanoparticles as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The key challenge in utilizing tin-based intermetallic compounds for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is the poor cycling stability which is caused by the huge volume change during the alloying/de-alloying processes. In this work, concerning this issue, a novel template-free electrodeposition procedure to prepare mutual independent Sn4Ni3 nanoparticles is presented. As-fabricated Sn4Ni3 nanoparticles deliver a high reversible capacity of 388.9 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 50 mA g(-1). Especially, such materials possess admirable cycling stability (no capacity fading after 1200 cycles at 200 mA g(-1)) which can be attributed to the mutual independence of each nanoparticle. Combining with the high rate capability, the Sn4Ni3 nanoparticles present a promising future of long-life tin-based intermetallic LIB anodes.