Improving the lithium storage properties of Li4Ti5O12 anodes by facile two-phase formation and nanostructure engineering strategy

The main issues spinel lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) anodes suffered from are poor electrical conductivity and low theoretical capacity, which impede the practical application of Li4Ti5O12 anodes in power lithium-ion batteries. Herein, the improvement in rate capability and specific capacity of Li4Ti5O12 anodes has been achieved by facile two-phase formation and nanostructure engineering strategy. When evaluated as anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the as-prepared TiO2in-situ decorated Li4Ti5O12 nanobelts exhibit impressive performance, delivering a high reversible specific capacity of 185.1 and 161.2 mAh g−1 at 20 and 200 mA g−1 after 250 and 2000 cycles, respectively. More importantly, a capacity of 135.6 mAh g−1 could be retained at a high rate of 2000 mA g−1 even after 5000 cycles, showing excellent rate property and cycle life. Thus excellent performance may make them a promising anode material for advanced lithium-ion batteries.