Synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous nest-like Li4Ti5O12 for high-rate lithium ion batteries

Hierarchical mesoporous nest-like Li4Ti5O12 is prepared by a hydrothermal reaction, using CTAB as the surfactant, and water-soluble titanium complex [NH4+]4[H+]2[Ti4(C2H2O3)4(C2H3O3)2(O2)4O2]6− as the titanium precursor. As-prepared Li4Ti5O12 has a tiny crystallite size of 8.2 nm and a very large surface area of 219.2 m2 g−1. Commercial micrometer-sized Li4Ti5O12 is also tested for comparision, and up to 10 000 mA g−1 (57 C) is applied to evaluate these two samples as the anode material for lithium ion batteries. Our products deliver much better cycling and rate performances, especially at high current densities. 135.1 mAh g−1 is obtained after 200 cycles at 2500 mA g−1, and 113.6 mAh g−1 is obtained at 10 000 mA g−1. The polarization in our products is much lower, and our products also show higher lithium diffusion coefficient and higher exchange current density, calculated from CV and EIS measurements.

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► Hierarchical mesoporous nest-like Li4Ti5O12 is obtained via a hydrothermal reaction.
► Our products deliver superb cycling and rate performances.
► Our products show lower polarization and higer DLi than commercial Li4Ti5O12.