Li4Ti5O12/reduced graphene oxide composite as a high-rate anode material for lithium ion batteries

Considering spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) both have own unique natural performance advantages separately, so we utilize a facile hydrothermal route to fabricate a composite which is synthesized by the spinel LTO grown on the rGO sheets. Electrochemical tests reflect that the small ratio of rGO (about 6.2 wt %) plays a key role in the improvement of the original morphology, structure and high rate performance. Compared with the previously published LTO/rGO composite, the newly synthesized LTO/rGO composite delivers a higher reversible special capacity of 196.4 mAh g(-1) at 1C and even exhibits good cycle stability with 98.1% retention after 100 cycles. What's more, after cycling 500 times at 20C, the discharge capacity of composite retains 154.5 mAh g(-1) (96.5% retention), whereas the bare LTO is only 69 mAh g(-1) (79.7% retention). In addition, the Li4Ti5O12/rGO composite possesses fine high rate performance with the specific discharge capacities of 175.3 mAh g(-1)(at 10C), 167 mAh g(-1) (at 15C) and 160.1 mAh g(-1)(at 20C). Such electrochemical performance is attributed to its unique structure of conductive rGO sheets with clung Li4Ti5O12 particles. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.