Synthesis and characterization of Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 anode material via a sol-gel method

• Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 has been synthesized via sol-gel method for the first time.
• The electrochemical performances of Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 are investigated.
• The Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 anode shows excellent cycle stability and rate capability.
• The charge capacities retains 154.8 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 1 A g−1.

Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 anode material was synthesized by a sol-gel method and the precursor calcinations. The sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron microscopy(TEM), galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results shows the nanoparticles were high crystalline and their size was found to be ca. 50–100 nm. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the anode material made of Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 displayed a highly reversible capacity and excellent cycling stability. The initial charge capacities of Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 are 239.5 mAh g−1, 225.8 mAh g−1, 217.4 mAh g−1,190.5 mAh g−1 and 171.6 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1, 100 mA g−1, 300 mA g−1, 500 mA g−1 and 1000 mA g−1,respectively. After 50 cycles, the charge capacity of 196.3 mAh g−1, 190.1 mAh g−1, 177.3 mAh g−1, 161.5 mAh g−1 and 154.8 mAh g−1 could be retained. This indicates that the Li2Zn0.6Cu0.4Ti3O8 material is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.