Lithium Electrochemistry of a Novel SnSe Thin-Film Anode

SnSe thin film prepared by reactive pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method was found to be a novel and promising anode material. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and discharge and charge behaviors of cells were examined, and the reversible discharge capacities in the range from were achieved during the first . A reduction in oxidation peaks at 1.3 and from CV curves of cell was first observed, indicating the reversible formation and decomposition of reaction of . This feature is utterly different from those of or SnO and , in which and are inactive. The lithium electrochemical reaction of SnSe thin-film electrode has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Both classical alloying process and the selenidation-reduction of nanosized metal tin were revealed in lithium electrochemical reaction of SnSe. SnSe as the starting material for conversion to Li–Sn alloy can improve its electrochemical performance with high reversible capacity and good, stable cyclability, demonstrating a promising anode material for future rechargeable lithium batteries.