Hybrid porous bamboo-like CNTs embedding ultrasmall LiCrTiO4 nanoparticles as high rate and long life anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Compared with Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, LiCrTiO₄ with the same spinel structure exhibits superior conductivity and Li⁺ diffusion properties. However, there has been no extensive study on LiCrTiO₄ as an anode material in lithium ion batteries, due to its pulverization, loss of electrical contact, and particle aggregation. A unique architecture based on hybrid porous CNTs embedding ultrasmall LiCrTiO₄ nanoparticles (6 ± 2 nm) was designed by using a facile sol–gel process combined with subsequent heat treatment. As an anode for lithium ion batteries, due to the absence of the aforementioned problems, the electrode exhibited high reversible capacity, excellent rate capability and superior long-term cycling stability at high current densities. Such nanocomposites should be competitive candidates to replace Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-based anode materials.