HIERARCHICAL Li4Ti5O12 MICROSPHERES AS A HIGH POWER ANODE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
In this paper, hierarchical Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 microspheres were successfully synthesized in a large scale via a facile hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the obtained Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 microspheres and the results indicate that the monodispersed Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 microspheres with ca. 2 μm in diameter was assembled by well-crystalline nanoparticles. Electrochemical analysis indicated that the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 microspheres have superior rate capability and cycling performance. At the charge–discharge rate of 0.2, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 C, the discharge capacities of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 microspheres are 169.2, 163.5, 158.3, 136.4, 117.6 and 94.3 mAh g−1, respectively. Excellent capacity retention of 98.7% was achieved after 100 cycles at 1 C rate and it can still maintained 91% even at high rate of 10 C.