Controllable formation and electrochemical properties of one-dimensional nanostructured spinel Li4Ti5O12

Novel spinel Li4Ti5O12 with nanotubes/nanowires morphology and high surface area has been prepared by a low temperature hydrothermal lithium ion exchange processing from hydrogen titanate nanotubes/nanowires precursors. The shape and morphology of spinel Li4Ti5O12 are controllable by varying the hydrogen titanate precursors (nanotube, nanowire, nanorod and nanobelt) from alkaline-hydrothermal approach. The crystal structure and morphology of the as-prepared lithium titanate nanotubes/nanowires have been investigated by TEM, HRTEM and XRD, respectively. The formation temperature of spinel Li4Ti5O12 nanotubes/nanowires is lower than that of bulk materials counterpart prepared by solid-state reaction or by sol-gel processing. The well reversible cyclic voltammetric results of both electrodes indicate enhanced electrochemical kinetics for lithium insertion. These novel one-dimensional nanostructured materials may find promising applications in lithium ion batteries and electrochemical cells.