Nitrogen-doped carbon decorated Li4Ti5O12 composites as anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials (NC), originating from melamine, decorated nano-Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ composites (LTO/NC) have been prepared by simple high-energy ball milling with a further heat treatment under a nitrogen atmosphere. The as-prepared LTO/NC composites have a regular structure with a size of 300 to 500 nm. The optimum designed LTO/NC composites showed the best performance with a high rate capacity of 161.5 mA h g⁻¹ at 1 C and showed excellent stability with 97.2% capacity retention after 100 cycles, as well as a remarkable rate capacity by maintaining 103 mA h g⁻¹ of the capacity at 20 C. The composites also exhibited excellent performances because of the NC decoration, which enhanced the electrochemical reactivity and electronic conductivity. These results provide a facile, general, and cost-effective strategy for the synthesis of LTO composite anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.