Micro-Sized Tin Powders as a High-Capacity and Long-Cycling Alloy Anode for Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract The development of high-capacity and long-cycling anodes is essential for advancing sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs). Among various candidates, tin (Sn) metal is a promising alloy anode, due to its high capacity, low cost, and high conductivity. However, previous studies mostly rely on nano-sized Sn, which is expensive, prone to instability, and typically limited to short cycling numbers (50−100 cycles). Herein, we report a micro-sized Sn powder (1−5 μm) as an inexpensive, stable, and feasible anode for ASSLIBs. Comparative studies reveal that the micro-Sn electrode undergoes fast capacity fading in conventional liquid electrolytes, whereas the sulfide solid-state electrolytes with unique mechanical and interfacial properties effectively mitigate structural degradation and lead to enhanced cycling stability. Specifically, the micro-Sn electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 765 mAh g−1, a long cycling of 800 cycles, and an average Coulombic efficiency of ∼99.93%, which exceeds the literature reports. When coupled with a lithium nickel manganese oxide (NMC) cathode, the all-solid-state Sn‖NMC full cell exhibits an operational voltage of 3.3 V and a long cycling life of 1000 cycles. This work highlights the viability of micro-sized Sn as a scalable and durable alloy anode for sulfide-based ASSLIB applications.