The Electrochemical Properties of Low-crystallinity TiO2(B)-Carbon Composite as an Anode Material in Lithium Ion Battery

• TiO2(B)-carbon composites was synthesized from Lepidocrocite-type compounds.
• Tight adhesion between TiO2(B) and CNT in the composite is confirmed.
• TiO2(B)-carbon composite delivers higher capacity than that of bare TiO2(B).
• TiO2(B)-carbon composite exhibits improved rate performance.

We have prepared two types TiO2(B)-carbon composites from Lepidocrocite-type compounds (K0.86Li0.26Ti1.72O4) heated at 700 and 900 °C under presence of carbon nanotube (CNT) and glucose as carbon sources. The XRD data shows that it contains a single phase of TiO2(B) and the existence of carbon was confirmed by Raman spectra. TEM image confirms that TiO2(B) primary particles and carbon nanotube are scattered randomly and contact tightly in the composite. Carbon content in the composite was found to be 5 - 8% and CNT is the major carbonaceous material. The charge and discharge curves of TiO2(B)-carbon composite prepared from precursor heated at 700 °C resemble with that of amorphous TiO2. The calculated discharge capacity of the composite is 323 mAh g−1 at a cut off voltage of 0.9 V, which is higher than that of bare TiO2(B). It is suggested that the electrochemical performance of this material is strongly influenced by both the operating temperature and cut off voltage. The discharge capacity can reach 198 mAh g−1 at 4.5 C rate at a cut off voltage 1.3 V and the coulombic efficiency is over 99.8% after 10th cycles.