Electron Microscopy Study of the Formation of Dendrite Cu6Sn5 Powders Synthesized by Solution Route Method
Siwat Thungprasert, Thapanee Sarakonsri, and Tawee Tunkasiri* Author for corresponding; e-mail address: siwattawis@yahoo.com
Volume: Vol.34 No.1 (JANUARY 2007)
Research Article
DOI:
Received: 30 August 2006, Revised: -, Accepted: 27 October 2006, Published: -
Citation: Thungprasert S., Sarakonsri T. and Tunkasiri T., Electron Microscopy Study of the Formation of Dendrite Cu6Sn5 Powders Synthesized by Solution Route Method, Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 2007; 34(1): 29-33.
Abstract
Dendrite Cu6Sn5 powders, a potential anode material for lithium-ion battery, can be synthesized by performing a redox reaction between stochiometric amount of metals chlorides and zinc metal in ethylene glycol solvent. The formation of dendrite morphology was investigated by considering two processing parameters. Two forms of reducing agent; zinc powders (45 mm) and zinc plate, were the first parameter. Reaction time varying from 1-5 minutes was the second one. From the characterization of the product powders by using SEM and TEM techniques, Cu6Sn5 compound was discovered to nucleate on reducing agent particles and subsequently grown into dendrite structure with long branches. These results have confirmed the proposed mechanism by “point effect of the electric field” for dendrite formation in this solution system.