Electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12/carbon nanotubes/graphene composite as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries

•A three-dimensional Li4Ti5O12/CNTs/graphene (LTO-CNT-G) composite was prepared by simple ball-milling method.•The CNTs/graphene conducting networks can greatly improve the conductivity of LTO-CNT-G anode.•The three-dimensional CNTs/graphene conducting networks can greatly improve the reversible capacity and rate capability in lithium ion batteries.

A three-dimensional Li4Ti5O12/carbon nanotubes/graphene composite (LTO-CNT-G) was prepared by ball-milling method, followed by microwave heating. The as-prepared LTO-CNT-G composite as anode material in lithium-ion battery exhibited superior rate capability and cycle performance under relative high current density compared with that of Li4Ti5O12/CNTs (LTO-CNT) and Li4Ti5O12/graphene (LTO-G) composites. Graphene nanosheets and CNTs were used to construct 3D conducting networks, leading to faster electron transfer and lower resistance during the lithium ion reversible reaction, which significantly enhanced the electrochemical activity of LTO-CNT-G composite. The synergistic effect of graphene and CNTs can greatly improve the rate capability and cycling stability of Li4Ti5O12-based anodes. The LTO-CNT-G composite exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 172 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and 132 mAh g−1 at 20 C, as well as an excellent cycling stability. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that the LTO-CNT-G composite has the smallest charge-transfer resistance compared with the LTO-CNT and LTO-G composites, indicating that the fast electron transfer from the electrolyte to the LTO-CNT-G active materials during the lithium ion intercalation/deintercalation owing to the three-dimensional networks of graphene and CNTs.