Synthesis and characterisation of high-performance 3Li4Ti5O12·NiO composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

A 3Li4Ti5O12·NiO composite anode material was prepared by a spray-drying method. The physical and electrochemical properties of samples were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical test. X-ray diffraction results revealed that incorporation of NiO did not alter the structure of Li4Ti5O12. Scanning electron microscopy images of both Li4Ti5O12 and 3Li4Ti5O12·NiO exhibited spherical particles with the sizes of 0.5–3 μm. Electrochemical tests showed that the 3Li4Ti5O12·NiO composite material exhibited much better rate and cycling performances than those of Li4Ti5O12 per se. It delivered the specific capacities of 372.8, 252.6 and 204.8 mAh g− 1 at 0.1, 1 and 2°C rates, respectively. After 300 cycles, the discharge specific capacity remained as high as 202.1 mAh g− 1 at 2°C rate.