The Reaction of Lithium with Sn-Mn-C Intermetallics Prepared by Mechanical Alloying

Intermetallic phases and mixtures of intermetallic phases in the Sn‐Mn‐C ternary system were prepared by mechanical alloying. The reaction of lithium with these phases was studied using in situ X‐ray diffraction and electrochemical methods. Studies concentrated on , , , and . Nanoscale two‐phase mixtures of and were also prepared and studied. When is mixed with sufficient amounts of a second phase, electrodes capable of delivering over 200 mAh/g for more than 50 cycles can be prepared. Grain boundary tin atoms in nanostructured appear to be able to react reversibly with lithium for hundreds of cycles. © 2000 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.