Enhanced electrochemical performance of a novel Li4Ti5O12 composite as anode material for lithium-ion battery in a broad voltage window

Li4Ti5O12–Li2TiO3–TiO2 and pristine Li4Ti5O12 electrodes have been synthesized by a solid-state method. The structure and electrochemical performance of these as prepared powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the galvanostatic charge–discharge test. All samples have agglomerate structure with the primary particle size of about 1 µm. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that Li4Ti5O12–Li2TiO3–TiO2 (LLT5) possesses high capacity and excellent rate capability. The improved electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12–Li2TiO3–TiO2 (LLT5) is clearly related to the improved electronic conductivity and lithium ion diffusivity. The high cycling performance and wide discharge voltage range, as well as simple synthesis route and low synthesis cost of the Li4Ti5O12–Li2TiO3–TiO2 (LLT5) is expected to show a potential commercial application.