Formation of Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 Powder by Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis

In the present study, high purity Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 solid solution was successfully synthesized by Self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) from Ti-Sn-Al-C reactants. Al plays a key role during the reaction process, which can replace Sn atom to form unstable Ti 2 Al (1-y) Sn y C or Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 solid solutions. Ti 2 Al (1-y) Sn y C is likely to transform to Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 at high temperature, and the unstable Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 phase has been kept because the SHS reaction would suddenly completed in a few minutes. Otherwise, Ti 2 SnC is the dominant phase if the reactants only contain Ti, Sn and C powders. TiC and Sn are also appeared as second phases because Ti 2 SnC would like to decompose at high temperatures. Moreover, Ti 3 Sn (1-x) Al x C 2 showed promising capability in lithium-ion storage.