Conformal Sn Coated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays and Its Electrochemical Performance for High Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

A nanophase tin (Sn) layer was coated on self-ordered TiO2 nanotube (TONT) arrays of 400 nm length and 120 nm diameter by using a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method followed by heat-treatment at low temperature. The morphological and structural characterization of the Sn-coated TONT (Sn/TONT) revealed the presence of a well-dispersed, nanophase Sn layer along the inner and outer walls of the TONTs. When used as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries, the Sn/TONT electrode exhibited high reversible capacity and coulombic efficiency in the first cycle, excellent capacity retention, and a rate capability higher than that of the uncoated TONT electrode. (C) 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3264612] All rights reserved.