Effect of Carbon Additives on the Electrochemical Performance of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C Anodes

• Published in: Energies
• Main Authors: Irina Stenina, Ruslan Shaydullin, Tatiana Kulova, Anna Kuz’mina, Nataliya Tabachkova, Andrey Yaroslavtsev
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Subjects: lithium ion battery; Li₄Ti₅O₁₂; mesoporous carbon; carbon replica
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/15/3941
• ISSN: 1996-1073

The Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composites were prepared by a hydrothermal method with in situ carbon addition. The influence of the morphology and content of various carbon materials (conductive carbon black, mesoporous carbon G_157M, and carbon replicas) on the electrochemical performance of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composites was investigated. The obtained composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microsopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and N₂ sorption-desorption isotherms. Morphology of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composites depends on the carbon matrix used, while both morphology and the amount of carbon material have a great impact on the rate capability and cycling stability of the obtained composites. At low current densities, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composite with 5 wt.% G_157M exhibits the highest discharge capacity, while at high charge-discharge rates, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/carbon black composites show the best electrochemical performance. Thus, at ~0.1C, 5C, and 18C rates, the discharge capacities of the obtained Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C composites are 175, 120, and 70 mAh/g for G_157M, 165, 126, and 78 mAh/g for carbon replicas, and 173, 128, and 93 mAh/g for carbon black. After 100 cycles, their capacity retention is no less than 95%, suggesting their promising application perspective.