Enhanced electrochemical performance of Li4Ti5O12 as anode material for lithium-ion batteries with different carbons as support

Nano-Li4Ti5O12/carbon composites with various structures are designed using tetrabutyl titanate as a precursor via a facile in situ liquid deposition method in the presence of three different carbons (multiwalled carbon nanotubes, spherical conductive carbon black super-P and ordered macroporous carbon). The nano-Li4Ti5O12/carbon composites with various morphologies are formed depending on the carbon matrixes used. The Li4Ti5O12 particles obtained are approximately 100 nm in size and homogeneously dispersed in different carbon matrixes. It is found that the structures of the carbon matrixes have a close relation to the discharge capacities of the composites. At the discharge current density of 875 mA g−1, the discharge capacities of nano-Li4Ti5O12/carbon composites with 10 wt% carbon are 138.6, 120.8 and 120.9 mAh g−1 for carbon nanotubes, super-P and porous carbon as the carbon supports, respectively. The nano-Li4Ti5O12/carbon using carbon nanotubes as support exhibits superior performance with large reversible capacity, excellent cycle stability and good rate capability. Capacity retention of 99% can be maintained after 100 cycles, suggesting its promising potential as anode materials.