The inorganic salt, SnSO4 was proposed as a new anode active material
for a lithium secondary battery. For the first discharge, a capacity o
f 500 mA h g(-1) was obtained at a current density (CD) of 0.1 mA cm(-
1), whereas a capacity of 300 mA h g(-1) attained at CD = 2.0 mA h g(-
1) when the anode mixture of SnSO4, acetylene black and PTFE was prepa
red in a weight ratio of 55:40:5. From the results of EPMA, SnSO4 was
pulverized by the lithium ion insertion into the structure, The existe
nce of metallic tin was identified from the XRD patterns in the insert
ion reaction at an intermediate state and a final amorphous substance
which incorporated up to about four moles of lithium ions per one mole
of tin was observed suggesting the formation of an alloying system ne
ar 0 V. The alloying reaction was reversible. Accordingly, the followi
ng two step reactions would be proposed in the SnSO4 anode: SnSO4 + 2L
i --> Sn + Li2SO4, Sn + 4Li reversible arrow Li4Sn. The data of the Mo
ssbauer effect supported the above two reactions.