Magnesium‐Ion Battery Anode from Polymer‐Derived SiOC Nanobeads

Abstract Tin‐containing silicon oxycarbide (SiOC/Sn) nanobeads are synthesized with different carbon/tin content and tested as electrodes for magnesium‐ion batteries. The synthesized ceramics are characterized by thermogravimetric‐mass spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, N 2 sorption analysis, scanning electron microscope, energy‐dispersive X‐ray, and elemental analysis. Galvanostatic cycling tests, rate performance tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests, and ex situ XRD measurements are conducted. Results of battery performance tests present a high capacity of 198.2 mAh g −1 after the first discharging and a reversible capacity of 144.5 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at 500 mA g −1 . Excellent rate performance efficiency of 85.2% is achieved. Battery performances in this research are influenced by surface area, and tin contentof the SiOC/Sn nanobeads. EIS, CV tests, and ex situ XRD measurements reveal that higher surface area contributes to higher capacity by providing more accessible Mg 2+ ion storage sites and higher rate capability by improving the diffusion process. Higher Sn content increases battery capacity through reversible Mg‐Mg 2 Sn‐Mg alloying/dealloying process and improves the rate performances by increasing electrical conductivity. Besides, SiOC advances cycling stability by preventing electrode collapse and enhances the capacity due to higher surface capacitive effects.