Electrochemical properties of Cu₆Sn₅ alloy powders directly prepared by spray pyrolysis

Spherical shape Cu-Sn alloy powders with fine size for lithium secondary battery were directly prepared by spray pyrolysis. The mean size and geometric standard deviation of the Cu-Sn alloy powders prepared at a temperature of 1100 °C were 0.8 μm and 1.2, respectively. The powders prepared at a temperature of 1100 °C with low flow rate of carrier gas as 5 l min^-1 had main XRD peaks of Cu₆Sn₅ alloy and copper-rich Cu₃Sn alloy phases. Cu and Sn components were well dispersed inside the submicron-sized alloy powders. The discharge capacities of the Cu₆Sn₅ alloy powders prepared at a flow rate of 5 l min^-1 dropped from 485 to 313 mAh g^-1 by the 20th cycle at a current density of 0.1 C. On the other hand, the discharge capacities of the Cu-Sn alloy powder prepared at a flow rate of 20 l min^-1 dropped from 498 to 169 mAh g^-1 by the 20th cycle at a current density of 0.1 C.