Electrospinning preparation of one-dimensional Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers for high-performance lithium ion battery

Abstract

One-dimensional Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers with a diameter of approximately 500 nm have been synthesized via a one-step controllable electrospinning method. The Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers were systematically characterized by XRD, ICP, TEM, SEM, BET, EDS mapping, and XPS. Based on the cubic spinel structure and one-dimensional effect of Li4Ti5O12, Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers exhibit the enlarged lattice volume, reduced particle size and enhanced electrical conductivity. More importantly, Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers as a lithium ion battery anode electrode performs superior electrochemical performance than undoped Li4Ti5O12 electrode in terms of electrochemical measurements. Particularly, the reversible capacity of Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 electrode reaches up to 140.1 mAh g−1 and still maintains 136.5 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current rate of 5 C. Therefore, one-dimensional Co2+-doped Li4Ti5O12 nanofiber electrodes, showing high reversible capacity and remarkable recycling property, could be a potential candidate as an anode material.