Tailored SnAl-Cu6Sn5 composite with hierarchical porous architecture for enhanced sodium storage

doi:10.1016/j.metadv.2026.02.028

Abstract

Abstract:

Tin (Sn) stands as a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, yet it suffers from severe volume changes during cycling. This work develops a novel SnAl-Cu₆Sn₅ composite through a rational dealloying strategy, featuring a unique 3D continuous bimodal porous structure that effectively mitigates mechanical stress during Na⁺ insertion/extraction. The incorporated Cu and Al components act as the bimetallic conductive network and thus benefit the electron transfer. Remarkably, the anode delivers an initial capacity of 432.6 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and retains 291.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles with the capacity retention of 67.4%. Furthermore, the Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃//SnAl-Cu₆Sn₅ full cell demonstrated excellent rate performance and cycling stability, maintaining 96.7% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles at 1 C. These findings provide important methodological guidance for the application of tin-based materials as high performance anodes in sodium-ion batteries.

Key words: Porous structure, Cu₆Sn₅ composite, Alloy anode, Sodium-ion batteries, Dealloying

Rumeng Bai, Fengxia Li, Juan Liu, Yunhe Hou, Qian Li, Zhaodi Huang, Yifan Zhu, Junqiang Wei, Qin Hao, Caixia Xu. Tailored SnAl-Cu₆Sn₅ composite with hierarchical porous architecture for enhanced sodium storage[J]. Metals Advances, 2026, 44: 77-87.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the preparation process for nanoporous SnAl-Cu6Sn5 materials.

Fig. 2. XRD patterns of (a) Cu14Sn16Al70 and (b) SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 samples; XPS data of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 sample: (c) full spectrum, (d) Sn 3d, (e) Cu 2p, and (f) Al 2p.

Fig. 3. SEM images of (a, b) SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1; (c, d) SnAl-Cu6Sn5-2; (e, f) SnAl-Cu6Sn5-3 samples.

Fig. 4. (a) TEM, (b, c) HRTEM, (d) SAED, and (e-h) STEM images and element mapping of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 material.

Fig. 5. Comparisons of the (a) cycling performances and CEs at 0.2 A g−1, (c) GCD curves at the 50th cycle at 0.2 A g−1, (d) rate performance, (f) cycling performances and CEs at 1 A g−1 of the three sample. The selected GCD profiles of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 anode at (b) 0.2 A g−1 and (e) different current densities. (g) Comparison of cycling performance of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 sample with the reported data.

Fig. 6. Surface SEM of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1, SnAl-Cu6Sn5-2, and SnAl-Cu6Sn5-3 samples after 500 cycles at 100 g−1 (a-c). Cross-sectional SEM images of three materials before (d-f) and after (g-i) cycling.

Fig. 7. (a) GCD curve at the 5th cycle of 0.2 A g−1 and (b) ex-situ XRD patterns at the different charging/discharging states of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 anode.

Fig. 8. (a) Initial three cycle CV curves at 0.2 A g−1, (b) CV curves at different scan rates (0.1-1.0 mV s−1), (c) log(i)-log(v) curves, (d) pseudo-capacitance contribution at a scan rate of 1 s−1, (e) ratios of pseudocapacitive and diffusion-controlled contributions at different scan rates, and (f) Nyquist plot of SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 electrode.

Fig. 9. GITT profiles and the evolution of DNa+ for the SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 electrode.

Fig. 10. (a) Schematic image, (b) rate performance, (c) initial discharging/charging curves, and (d) long-term cycling at 1 C of the NVP//SnAl-Cu6Sn5-1 full cell.

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Tailored SnAl-Cu₆Sn₅ composite with hierarchical porous architecture for enhanced sodium storage

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