Polyol-mediated synthesis of Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticle and its electrochemical properties

Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles were precipitated from ethylene glycol solution of titanium tetra isopropoxide (Ti(O-iPr)4) and Li2O2 by refluxing at 197 °C for 12 h. The obtained particles were filtered and dried at 100 °C for 12 h, and the dried powder samples were heated at 320, 500 and 800 °C for 3 h. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the obtained samples exhibited a good fit with the spinel phase. The field emission-SEM images of the dried powder sample and the samples heated at 320, 500 and 800 °C for 3 h showed a uniform spherical morphology with a particle size of 5, 8, 10 and 400 nm, respectively. According to the results of electrochemical testing, the dried powder sample and the samples heated at 320, 500, and 800 °C for 3 h showed initial capacities of 200, 310, 320, and 260 mA h/g, respectively, at a current density of 0.05 mA/cm2. Nanosized (6-8 nm) particles with good crystallinity were obtained by controlling the synthesis conditions. The sample heated at 500 °C for 3 h exhibited a high capacity and an excellent rate capability over 60 cycles.