Use of amorphous tin-oxide films obtained by spray pyrolysis as electrodesin lithium batteries

Amorphous tin-oxide films were prepared by spray pyrolysis of SnCl2 . 2H(2) O mixed with CH3-COOH and deposited onto a stainless steel substrate at mil d temperatures (350 degrees C). The films grown were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy with ene rgy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). Also, they were tested as electrod es in lithium rechargeable batteries. The XPS results suggest that the subs trate is thoroughly coated and that the films are composed mainly of SnO an d SnO2. These films exhibit good charge-discharge properties over more than 100 cycles. Heating at 600 degrees C causes significant changes in their s urface composition, in the virtual disappearance of the tin component and i n the presence of oxygen-bound Fe. Under these conditions, the reversible c apacity dramatically fades and the cell behaves similarly to that made from uncoated substrate. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.