Synthesis and electrochemical performances of amorphous carbon-coated Sn–Sb particles as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The amorphous carbon coating on the Sn–Sb particles was prepared from aqueous glucose solutions using a hydrothermal method. Because the outer layer carbon of composite materials is loose cotton-like and porous-like, it can accommodate the expansion and contraction of active materials to maintain the stability of the structure, and hinder effectively the aggregation of nano-sized alloy particles. The as-prepared composite materials show much improved electrochemical performances as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries compared with Sn–Sb alloy and carbon alone. This amorphous carbon-coated Sn–Sb particle is extremely promising anode materials for lithium secondary batteries and has a high potentiality in the future use.