Cost-effective Li4Ti5O12/C–S prepared by industrial H2TiO3 under a carbon reducing atmosphere as a superior anode for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Spinel-type Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) is known as a “zero-strain” material due to its negligible structural change during the charge/discharge process. However, high production cost and poor electrical conductivity limit the wide application of spinel-type LTO. Herein, a novel preparation process was developed to prepare a Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C–S composite using industrial H 2 TiO 3 as the titanium source. In the calcination process under a carbon reducing atmosphere, SO 4 2− adsorbed on industrial H 2 TiO 3 not only promotes the carbonization of glucose on the surface of LTO but also introduces S heteroatoms into the carbon coating layer in the form of C–S bonds through a series of reactions with glucose, which significantly improves the overall conductivity and the Li + diffusion coefficient of the material. Therefore, the synthesized Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /C–S composite exhibits excellent rate performance and cycling stability, with a specific capacity of 135.88 mAh g −1 even at 10C and a capacity decay rate of only 0.011% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 5C. This study delivers a novel method for the industrial production of LTO with both cost and performance advantages.