Annealing temperature dependence of features of Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film as anode for lithium-ion batteries

[Display omitted] •A series of Sn-Ni-Cu alloy films were fabricated by electrodeposition and subsequent heat treatment.•The Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film electrode annealed at 400 ℃ takes on an appearance of parallel growth and has several transitional phases with high activation.•The Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film electrode annealed at 400 ℃ display high specific capacities of 700 mA h g−1 at 2000 mA g−1 after 1000 cycles and rate performance of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 0.1 and 2.0 mA g−1 rates.•The Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film annealed at 400 ℃ displays excellent reversibility and capacitive behavior through kinetic study. The annealing temperature effect on the features of Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film is studied. It is shown that the morphology and phase composition of the film change with annealing temperature increasing. In addition, the electrochemical performances of the films as anode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are investigated. It is found that the performance increases at first and then declines with increase of annealing temperature and up to the best for the film annealed at 400 ℃. Furthermore, the kinetic behavior of the electrode shows that the Sn-Ni-Cu alloy film electrode has excellent reversibility and capacitive behavior.