Electrophoretic deposition of Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles with a novel additive for Li-ion microbatteries

Abstract

Electrophoretic deposition is presented as a handy and cost-effective technique to transfer nano-sized (powdered) electrode materials into thin- or thick-films for electrochemical energy storage applications. Electrophoretic deposition of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoparticles is studied to prepare thick films as anodes for Li-ion microbatteries with MgCl₂ additives – for the first time – as an efficient charging agent and a source of binder simultaneously. Electrochemical measurements in lithium test cells confirmed that the prepared thick-film Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ electrode has good discharge (lithiation) capacities and cyclability, as well as good electronic and Li⁺ transport properties. Indeed, electrophoretic deposition is demonstrated to be a suitable alternative to prepare self-supported micro- or nano-structured Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ for Li-ion microbatteries.