Enhancing Magnesium-Ion Storage in a Bi-Sn Anode through Dual-Phase Engineering

Muhammad Rashad, Apinya Ngoipala, Matthias Vandichel, Hugh Geaney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs) are a “beyond Li-ion” technology that are hampered by Mg metal reactivity, which motivates the development of anode materials such as tin (Sn) with high theoretical capacity (903 mAh g-1). However, pure Sn is inactive for Mg2+ storage. Herein, Mg alloying with Sn is enabled within dual-phase Bi-Sn anodes, where the optimal composition (Bi66.5Sn33.5) outperformed single-phase Bi and Sn electrodes to deliver high specific capacity (462 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1), good cycle life (84% after 200 cycles), and significantly improved rate capability (403 mAh g-1 at 1000 mA g-1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that Mg alloys first with Bi and the subsequent formation of the Mg3Bi2//Sn interfaces is energetically more favorable compared to the individual Mg3Bi2 and Sn phases. Mg insertion into Sn is facilitated when Mg3Bi2 is present. Moreover, dealloying Mg from Mg3Bi2:Mg2Sn systems requires the creation of Mg vacancies and subsequent Mg diffusion. Mg vacancy creation is easier for Mg2Sn compared to Mg3Bi2, while the latter has slightly lower activated Mg-diffusion pathways. The computational findings point toward easier magnesiation/demagnesiation for BiSn alloys over pure Bi or pure Sn, corroborating the superior Mg storage performance of Bi-Sn electrodes over the corresponding single-phase electrodes.

Original languageEnglish
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • alloying mode anodes
  • bismuth/tin active materials
  • DFT calculations
  • dual-phase engineering
  • electrochemical characterization
  • Mg-ion batteries

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