INFLUENCE OF THE CARBON-BASED SUPPORT ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR OF NANOCOMPOSITES WITH Cu-Sn NANOPARTICLES

Cu-Sn nanoparticle powder have been synthesized through a borohydride reduction in a mixture of water solutions of chloride salts and also applying a template technique using a support. As supports for the template synthesis of the Cu-Sn nanoparticle have been used carbon foam (C-foam), carbon powder (C-powder) and graphite. It has been examined the influence of the support on the formation and phase composition of the obtained nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical analyses of the carbon-based (C-based) nanocomposites with Cu-Sn nanoparticles have been carried out. Cu(65)n(5) and Cu10Sn3 phases are formed depending on the support used. The obtained C-based nanocomposites exhibit a different electrochemical behavior depending on the C-based support and respectively the particle size and their phase composition. According to the carbon matrix different nanocomposites are formed such as graphite/Cu10Sn3, Cu6Sn5, Cu2O; C-powder/Cu6Sn5, Cu2O; C-foam/ Cu10Sn3,Cu,Sn. The composite of graphite/Cu-Sn alloy is characterized by the highest irreversible discharge capacity of 62%, lower efficiency of the first cycle of 38% and the highest average discharge capacity of 410 mAh g(-1), while the composite of C-foam/Cu-Sn alloy is characterized by the highest efficiency at the first cycle of 73%.