Li4Ti5O12 nanosquares@ultrathin carbon nanofilms on a large scale with enhanced properties in lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In this paper, functionalized carbon-anchored Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (C-LTO) ultrathin nanosquares were synthesized via a combination of ball milling and solid state routes in a large scale. The resulting products were investigated by instrumental analyses such as XRD, SEM, HRTEM and IR. It was found that the transformation from microspheres to nanosquares was readily achieved through a “mechanical activation and Ostwald ripening” mechanism via examining the intermediate product structure at different reaction stages. This research indicates that C-LTO nanosquares with high crystallinity are a promising anode material for high-specific-energy in rechargeable lithium batteries.