Synthesis and electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12 hollow microspheres assembled by nanoparticles

•A modified solvothermal method with CTAB as structure directing agent was used.•Li4Ti5O12 hollow microspheres assembled by nanoparticles were prepared.•The synthesized sample exhibits high rate capacity and cycling stability.•Its capacity reaches as high as 141 mAh/g at 5 C and 115.6 mAh/g at 10 C.•After 100 cycles, the capacity retentions are 98.7% at 5 C and 95.4% at 10 C.

The Li4Ti5O12 hollow microspheres assembled by nanoparticles were prepared by a modified solvothermal method. In this method, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as structure directing agent to synthesize the hierarchical structure. The morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of the synthesized Li4Ti5O12 microspheres were investigated. Results from the charge/discharge measurements indicate that the synthesized sample exhibits high rate capacity and cycling stability. Its specific capacity reaches as high as 147 mAh/g at 1 C, 141 mAh/g at 5 C, and 115.6 mAh/g at 10 C. And after 100 cycles, the capacity retentions are 97.8%, 98.7% and 95.4%, respectively.

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