Microwave-assisted synthesis of tin sulfide nanoflakes and their electrochemical performance as Li-inserting materials

Chitta R. Patra, Ayelet Odani, Vilas G. Pol, Doron Aurbach, Aharon Gedanken

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel and quick method has been developed for the preparation of tin sulfide (SnS and SnS 2) nanoflakes in high yield (≈93%) by a microwave irradiation technique for 10 40 min. The sulfides were synthesized in a simple domestic microwave oven (DMO) using stannic chloride and stanous chloride as the precursors of tin and thiourea as the precursor of sulfur in ethylene glycol under argon atmosphere. Elemental sulfur and sodium thiosulfate were also tried as precursors of sulfur. The structures, morphologies, compositions, and physical properties of the products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and standard electrochemical techniques. The XRD patterns indicate that the as-synthesized product, obtained after microwave irradiation, is crystalline orthorhombic in the case of the SnS phase and amorphous in the case of SnS 2. Heat treatment of this SnS 2 produced a crystalline hexagonal phase. A possible mechanism for the formation of the tin sulfide nanoflakes is proposed herein. The electrochemical performance of these materials as Li-insertion materials was investigated in a number of electrolyte solutions and was found to be highly sensitive to the solution composition. A stable reversible capacity higher than 600 mAh/g could be obtained with SnS electrodes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)186-194
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Solid State Electrochemistry
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007

Keywords

  • Electrochemistry
  • Synthesis
  • Tin sulfide nanoflakes

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