Effect of the synthesis method of SnSb anode materials on their electrochemical properties

SnSb alloy powders for the anode of Li-ion batteries were synthesized by two kinds of reduction precipitation methods： solution titration and rapid mixing. Two kinds of SnSb alloy powders showed different phase compositions and particle morphologies although the same starting materials were used. The SnSb alloy electrode synthesized by titration exhibits high reversible specific capacity and good cycling stability, whereas the rapid-mixing sample shows high irreversible capacity and fast capacity fade. The broad particle size distribution of SnSb powders synthesized by titration is considered to be responsible for the improvement of cycling stability. The initial charge-discharge efficiency exceeding 80% has been obtained for the titration sample. The electrochemical reaction process of two kinds of synthesized SnSb composite electrodes was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance techniques.

Study of Compound Polishing Process on SnSb Alloy Moulds

The characteristic of metallographic structure of the SnSb alloy moulds is that hard particles are distributed on the soft metal matrix. Great difference of the hard particles and the soft metal matrix’hardness makes moulds’polishing become difficult. When a rigid grindstone is used to polish the surface of the SnSb alloy mould, the hard abrasives fall off and are embed in the soft matrix of SnSb alloy and while the process, the grinding chips are able to block the gap on the grindstone surface and enable the grindstone to blunt, which brings about the polished area on the surface of the mould is seriously squeezed and deformed and the crystal lattice of SnSb alloys is seriously distorted, and the work hardening takes place. At the same time, the rigid grindstone is easy to scratch the surface of the SnSb alloy mould. Owing to the above reasons, it is difficult to reduce surface roughness and improve the surface quality of SnSb alloy moulds. Taking use of the CAD/CAM technique and the complex processing of combining electrolyzing polishing and mechanical polishing with the magnetic force, mould’s polishing automation is realized on the numerical control machine tool. This complex processing is finished under a comprehensive action as the following: 1. Electrolyzing polishing action Under the electric field, the electrolyte between the elastic grind wheel and the mould is ionized, which electrolyzes the metal of the mould’s surface. The electrolyzing speed of convex peak on the mould’s surface is faster than that of concave valley, which levels the mould’s surface. 2. Mechanical Polishing action During electrolyzing, a dense passive film of low hardness is formed on the mould’s surface. While polishing, soft grinding wheel scraps the passive film on the conven peak easily, and the new metal surface is exposed, then, a new passive film is formed again, going round and round, the conven peak on the mould’s surface is leveled quickly. 3. Magnetic force action The charged particles in electric field will be acted by the Lorentz force in magnetic field. The field plays a stirring part on electrolyte and reduces electrochemical polarization and concentration polarization, and accelerates the electrochemical reaction. The complex polishing process is not only of high efficiency, but also of good surface quality and provides a good effective method for the non-ferrous metal polishing. When the mould is polished, a speed-raising tool system is used and it can increase the grinding wheel spindle’s speed up to five times. This paper describes the SnSb alloy moulds’polishing steps, grinding wheel speed-raising tool system, polishing principle and the results.