%0 Journal Article
%K X-ray Diffraction
%K Electrochemical electrodes
%K Intercalation compounds
%K Lithium alloys
%K Magnesium alloys
%K Mechanical alloying
%K Tin alloys
%A Gregory A Roberts
%A Elton J Cairns
%A Jeffrey A Reimer
%B Journal of The Electrochemical Society
%D 2003
%N 7
%P A912-A916
%R 10.1149/1.1578477
%T An Electrochemical and XRD Study of Lithium Insertion into Mechanically Alloyed Magnesium Stannide
%V 150
%! J. Electrochem. Soc.
%X <p>The intermetallic Mg<sub>2</sub>Sn is a promising negative electrode material for rechargeable lithium cells. Preliminary cycling tests have demonstrated stable capacities at 400 mAh/g for 20 cycles. Magnesium stannide was produced by mechanically alloying magnesium and tin powders. Mechanical alloying can convert the equilibrium Mg<sub>2</sub>Sn phase to a metastable phase by the introduction of defects with extended milling times. <em>In situ</em> X-ray diffraction has shown that the cubic Li<sub>2</sub>MgSn phase, which is similar in size and structure to cubic Mg<sub>2</sub>Sn, is produced by lithium insertion into the equilibrium and metastable phases. The conversion from the metastable phase is irreversible, so subsequent lithium removal from Li<sub>2</sub>MgSn produces the equilibrium Mg<sub>2</sub>Sn phase.</p>