Structural aspects of electrochemically lithiated SnO: nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray absorption studies

We have compared the local structure of electrochemically lithiated SnO wit h Sn/Li alloys using Li-7 to study the environment of the Li ion and extend ed X-ray absorption fine structure to study the environment of the Sn ion. Although a widely accepted simple model suggested that the electrochemicall y Lithiated SnO should be similar to Sn/Li alloys of corresponding composit ion, we find this is true only at low Li concentrations. The addition of mo re Li to the structure produces, for both the Li and the Sn, features which are difficult to reconcile with the simple model, and suggest the presence of direct Sn-O interactions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights res erved.