Abstract:Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was prepared by a hydrothermal method followed by solid state calcination using lithium acetate and tetrabutyl titanate as raw materials, triethanolamine as a structure-directing agent. The effects of different mole ratios of titanium to lithium and calcination temperature on the structure and electrochemical performance of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were investigated by XRD, SEM, constant current charge-discharge and cyclic voltammetry. The results show that, when the mole ratio of titanium to lithium is 1:0.82 and the calcination temperature is 800 ℃, the obtained pure phase spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ with average particle size of 200 nm has better electrochemical performance. The initial discharge specific capacity of the sample is as high as 181.7 mA∙h/g at the current density of 0.1C, and the capacity remains 151.5 mA∙h/g after 50 cycles with the capacity fading rate of only 6 μA∙h/g per cycle during 5−50th cycles. The sample still remains initial discharge capacity of 135 mA∙h/g at 2.0C and the capacity fading rate is 0.48 mA∙h/g per cycle during the 5−50th cycles.

Key words: Li-ion batteries; anode material; hydrothermal method; spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂; triethanolamine