Lithium Titanate/Carbon Nanotubes Composites Processed by Ultrasound Irradiation as Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

In this work, lithium titanate nanoparticles (nLTO)/single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) composite electrodes are prepared by the combination of an ultrasound irradiation and ultrasonic spray deposition methods. It was found that a mass fraction of 15% carbon nanotubes optimizes the electrochemical performance of nLTO electrodes. These present capacities as high as 173, 130, 110 and 70 mAh.g−1 at 0.1C, 1C, 10C and 100C, respectively. Moreover, after 1000 cycles at 1C, the nLTO/SWCNT composites present a capacity loss of just 9% and a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8%. Therefore, the presented methodology might be extended to other suitable active materials in order to manufacture binder free electrodes with optimal energy storage capabilities.

Quantifying the factors limiting rate performance in battery electrodes

“…Shown in figure 3A are specific capacity versus rate data for anodes of GaS nanosheets mixed with carbon nanotubes at different mass fractions, Mf (ref 7 ). A clear improvement in rate performance can be seen as Mf, and hence the electrode conductivity, increases, indicating changes in  and n. We fitted data extracted from a number of papers 7,18,19,60,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68] to equation 2 and plotted  and n versus Mf in figures 3B and C. These data indicate a systematic drop in both  and n with increasing electrode conductivity. Figure 3B shows  to fall significantly with Mf for all data sets with some samples showing a thousand-fold reduction.…”

Comparative Study of Li4Ti5O12 Composites Prepared withPristine, Oxidized, and Surfactant‐Treated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for High‐Power Hybrid Supercapacitors

“…Figure a compares the CV curve of the LTO/P‐MWCNT composite with those of the LTO/O‐MWCNT and LTO/S‐MWCNT composites within the potential window of 1.0–2.5 V (vs. Li/Li + ) at a potential scan rate of 0.05 mV s −1 . All the composites exhibit a pair of well‐defined current peaks, which are characteristics of Li‐ion intercalation/ deintercalation processes of LTO ,. The peak potential separation increased from 70.8 mV (LTO/P‐MWCNT) to 82.8 mV (LTO/S‐MWCNT) and 112.4 mV (LTO/O‐MWCNT), which is consistent with the electrical conductivities of the LTO/MWCNT composites in the order of LTO/P‐MWCNT (2.65 S cm −1 )>LTO/S‐MWCNT (1.32 S cm −1 )>LTO/O‐MWCNT (0.24 S cm −1 ).…”

“…Figure b shows the charge/discharge curves of the LTO/P‐MWCNT composite at increasing C‐rate from 0.2 C to 200 C. LTO/P‐MWCNT composite shows flat potential plateaus centered at 1.55 V at 0.2 C, which corresponds to the Li‐ion intercalation/deintercalation processes of LTO . Similar charge/discharge curves are obtained for the LTO/O‐MWCNT and LTO/S‐MWCNT composites, however, increasing polarization is measured in the order of LTO/P‐MWCNT<LTO/S‐MWCNT<LTO/O‐MWCNT.…”

High Capacity and Fast Charge‐Discharge Li4Ti5O12 Nanoflakes/TiO2 Nanotubes Composite Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

“…The LTO‐NF/TNT composite outperforms other research using LTO composites . The LTO‐NF exhibited good electrochemical performance due to its nanoflake morphology, which increased its surface area for faster lithium intercalation and deintercalation.…”