A nano-architectured porous electrode assembly of copper rich Cu ₆Sn₅ thin film for rechargeable lithium batteries

Cu and Sn are codeposited on a copper substrate via electron beam evaporation deposition method to form a nano porous thin film anode. The galvanostatic charge-discharge results show that the nano porous Cu _6.26Sn₅ thin film performs 784 mAh g^-1 as first discharge capacity. A capacity fade is observed during the first three cycles, this sharp capacity decay has disappeared and a progressive increase in the capacity is observed up to 40th cycles. Then, a steady state regime has begun and continued up to 60th cycles. The enhanced electrochemical properties of the nano porous, structured Cu-Sn composite thin film is attributed to its particular composition, morphology and structure.