Ab initio studies of structural and electronic properties of Li4Ti5O12 spinel

Structural and electronic properties of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ spinel are studied from density functional theory based first principles calculations. Differences on these properties between delithiated state Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ and lithiated state Li₇Ti₅O₁₂ are compared. The optimized lattice constant of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ is 8.619 Å, which is even a little larger (0.2%) than 8.604 Å of the lithiated state Li₇Ti₅O₁₂. The arrangement of the Li and Ti atoms at the 16d sites of the spinel structure is also investigated in a cubic unit cell. Large 1 × 1 × 3 supercell models are constructed and used to calculate the total energy and electronic structure. The average intercalation potential is also calculated, with metallic lithium as reference.     

Sol-gel Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Li4-xMgxTi5-xZrxO12 Anode Material for Lithium-ion Batteries

The anode materials Li_4?xMg_xTi_5?xZr_xO₁₂ (x=0, 0.05, 0.1) were successfully synthesized by sol‐gel method using Ti(OC₄H₉)₄, CH₃COOLi·2H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O and Zr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O as raw materials. The crystalline structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of the as‐prepared materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, cyclic voltammograms (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and charge‐discharge cycling tests. The results show that the lattice parameters of the Mg‐Zr doped samples are slightly larger than that of the pure Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, and Mg‐Zr doping does not change the basic Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ structure. The rate capability of Li_4?xMg_xTi_5?xZr_xO₁₂ (x=0.05, 0.1) electrodes is significantly improved due to the expansile Li⁺ diffusion channel and reduced charge transfer resistance. In this study, Li_3.95Mg_0.05Ti_4.95Zr_0.05O₁₂ represented a relatively good rate capability and cycling stability, after 400 cycles at 10 C, the discharge capacity retained as 134.74 mAh·g^?1 with capacity retention close to 100%. The excellent rate capability and good cycling performance make Li_3.95Mg_0.05Ti_4.95Zr_0.05O₁₂ a promising anode material in lithium‐ion batteries.     

锂离子电池负极材料Li_(4-x)K_xTi_5O_(12)结构和电化学性能

采用固相反应的方法制备了尖晶石型Li4Ti5O12和K掺杂Li4-xKxTi5O12(x=0.02,0.04,0.06)。通过XRD、SEM、BET等对制备材料进行了分析。结果表明,K掺杂没有影响立方尖晶石型Li4Ti5O12的合成,同时也没有改变Li4Ti5O12的电化学反应过程。K掺杂Li4-xKxTi5O12具有比Li4Ti5O12小的颗粒粒径和比Li4Ti5O12大的比表面积、孔容积。适量的K掺杂能够明显改善Li4Ti5O12的电化学性能,尤其是倍率性能,但是过多的K掺杂却不利于材料电化学性能的提高。研究表明,Li3.96K0.04Ti5O12体现了相对较好的倍率性能和循环稳定性。0.5C下,首次放电比容量为161mAh·g-1,3.0和5.0C下,容量保持分别为138和121mAh·g-1。3.0C下,200次循环后容量保持为137mAh·g-1。     

Li4Ti5O12 Anode: Structural Design from Material to Electrode and the Construction of Energy Storage Devices

Spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, known as a zero‐strain material, is capable to be a competent anode material for promising applications in state‐of‐art electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs). Compared with commercial graphite, spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ offers a high operating potential of ∼1.55 V vs Li/Li⁺, negligible volume expansion during Li⁺ intercalation process and excellent thermal stability, leading to high safety and favorable cyclability. Despite the merits of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ been presented, there still remains the issue of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ suffering from poor electronic conductivity, manifesting disadvantageous rate performance. Typically, a material modification process of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ will be proposed to overcome such an issue. However, the previous reports have made few investigations and achievements to analyze the subsequent processes after a material modification process. In this review, we attempt to put considerable interest in complete device design and assembly process with its material structure design (or modification process), electrode structure design and device construction design. Moreover, we have systematically concluded a series of representative design schemes, which can be divided into three major categories involving: (1) nanostructures design, conductive material coating process and doping process on material level; (2) self‐supporting or flexible electrode structure design on electrode level; (3) rational assembling of lithium ion full cell or lithium ion capacitor on device level. We believe that these rational designs can give an advanced performance for Li₄Ti₅O₁₂‐based energy storage device and deliver a deep inspiration.     

Exfoliated nanoplatelets of an Aurivillius phase, Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12: Characterisation by X-ray diffraction and by high-resolution electron microscopy

Nanoparticles of the Aurivillius phase La-substituted BTO (Bi_4−xLa_xTi₃O₁₂, with x=0.75) were obtained through a chemical lithiation process. They have been characterised by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (diffraction and imaging at high resolution). The defect-free particles are platelet-shaped with the c large axis perpendicular to the plane. From high-resolution images, it is clear that the delamination process occurs at the level of the (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ intermediate layer and is destructive for this layer. The smallest thickness measured corresponds to one cell parameter (3.3 nm) but a large range of thicknesses have been observed: this suggests that the lithium insertion does not take place in all (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ layers, despite a large excess of lithium and a long reaction time. This is confirmed by ICP analysis, which leads to a formula Li_0.99Bi_3.25La_0.77Ti_3.00O₁₂ for the lithiated compound. This behaviour towards lithium intercalation differs from those observed with BTO in literature, where lithium insertion is reported as occurring in every (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ layer. Possible explanations for this difference are advanced based on microstructural and structural considerations.     

Low‐temperature Synthesis of Peony‐like Spinel Li4Ti5O12 as a High‐performance Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

Peony‐like spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was synthesized via calcination of precursor at the temperature of 400°C, and the precursor was prepared through a hydrothermal process in which the reaction of hydrous titanium oxide with lithium hydroxide was conducted at 180°C. The as‐prepared product was investigated by SEM, TEM and XRD, respectively. As anode material for lithium ion battery, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ obtained was also characterized by galvanostatic tests and cyclic voltammetry measurements. It is found that the peony‐like Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ exhibited high rate capability of 119.7 mAh·g⁻¹ at 10 C and good capacity retention of 113.8 mAh·g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 5 C, and these results indicate the peony‐like Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ has promising applications for lithium ion batteries with high performance.     

Structural and Electrochemical Study of Vanadium‐Doped TiO2 Ramsdellite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Titanium‐oxide‐based materials are considered attractive and safe alternatives to carbonaceous anodes in Li‐ion batteries. In particular, the ramsdellite form TiO₂(R) is known for its superior lithium‐storage ability as the bulk material when compared with other titanates. In this work, we prepared V‐doped lithium titanate ramsdellites with the formula Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ (0≤x≤0.5) by a conventional solid‐state reaction. The lithium‐free Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds, in which the ramsdellite framework remains virtually unaltered, are easily obtained by a simple aqueous oxidation/ion‐extraction process. Neutron powder diffraction is used to locate the Li channel site in Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds and to follow the lithium extraction by difference‐Fourier maps. Previously delithiated Ti_1?xV_xO₂ ramsdellites are able to insert up to 0.8 Li⁺ per transition‐metal atom. The initial gravimetric capacities of 270 mAh g^?1 with good cycle stability under constant current discharge conditions are among the highest reported for bulk TiO₂‐related intercalation compounds for the threshold of one e^? per formula unit.     

Nitridated mesoporous Li4Ti5O12 spheres for high-rate lithium-ion batteries anode material

Nitridated mesoporous Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ spheres were synthesized by a simple ammonia treatment of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ derived from mesoporous TiO₂ particles and lithium acetate dihydrate via a solid state reaction in the presence of polyethylene glycol 20000. The carbonization of polyethylene glycol could effectively restrict the growth of primary particles, which was favorable for lithium ions diffusing into the nanosized TiO₂ lattice during the solid state reaction to form a pure phase Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. After a subsequent thermal nitridation treatment, a high conductive thin TiO _x N _y layer was in situ constructed on the surface of the primary nanoparticles. As a result, the nitridated mesoporous Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ structure, possessing shorter lithium-ion diffusion path and better electrical conductivity, displays significantly improved rate capability. The discharge capacity reaches 138 mAh?g^?1 at 10 C rate and 120 mAh?g^?1 at 20 C rate in the voltage range of 1–3 V.     

Synthesis and electrochemical performances of Li4Ti4.95Zr0.05O12/C as anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Spinel Li₄Ti_5 − x Zr _x O₁₂/C (x = 0, 0.05) were prepared by a solution method. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical performances including charge–discharge (0–2.5 V and 1–2.5 V), cyclic voltammetry, and ac impedance were also investigated. The results revealed that the Li₄Ti_4.95Zr_0.05O₁₂/C had a relatively smaller particle size and more regular morphology than that of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C. Zr⁴⁺ doping enhanced the ability of lithium-ion diffusion in the electrode. It delivered a discharge capacity 289.03 mAh g⁻¹ after 50 cycles for the Zr⁴⁺-doped Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C while it decreased to 264.03 mAh g⁻¹ for the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/C at the 0.2C discharge to 0 V. Zr⁴⁺ doping did not change the electrochemical process, instead enhanced the electronic conductivity and ionic conductivity. The reversible capacity and cycling performance were effectively improved especially when it was discharged to 0 V.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of spinel Li4Ti5O12−x Cl x anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Li₄Ti₅O_12−x Cl _x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) compounds were synthesized successfully via high temperature solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize their structure and morphology. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and charge/discharge cycling performance tests were used to characterize their electrochemical properties. The results showed that the Li₄Ti₅O_12−x Cl _x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) compounds were well-crystallized pure spinel phase and that the grain sizes of the samples were about 3–8 μm. The Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the best discharge capacity among all the samples and showed better reversibility and higher cyclic stability compared with pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. When the discharge rate was 0.5 C, the Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the superior discharge capacity of 148.7 mAh g⁻¹, while that of the pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was 129.8 mAh g⁻¹; when the discharge rate was 2 C, the Li₄Ti₅O_11.8Cl_0.2 sample presented the discharge capacity of 120.7 mAh g⁻¹, while that of the pristine Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was only 89.8 mAh g⁻¹.     

Mesoporous Spherical Li4Ti5O12 as High‐Performance Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Porous microspherical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ aggregates (LTO‐PSA) can be successfully prepared by using porous spherical TiO₂ as a titanium source and lithium acetate as a lithium source followed by calcinations. The synthesized LTO‐PSA possess outstanding morphology, with nanosized, porous, and spherical distributions, that allow good electrochemical performances, including high reversible capacity, good cycling stability, and impressive rate capacity, to be achieved. The specific capacity of the LTO‐PSA at 30 C is as high as 141 mA h g^?1, whereas that of normal Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ powders prepared by a sol–gel method can only achieve 100 mA h g^?1. This improved rate performance can be ascribed to small Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanocrystallites, a three‐dimensional mesoporous structure, and enhanced ionic conductivity.     

The synergic effects of Ca and Sm co-doping on the crystal structure and electrochemical performances of Li4-xCaxTi5-xSmxO12 anode material

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ as the well-known “zero strain” anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) suffers from low intrinsic ionic and electronic conductivity. The strategy of lattice doping has been widely taken to relieve the intrinsic issues. But the roles of the dopants are poorly understood. Herein, we propose to modulate the crystal structure and improve the electrochemical performance of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ by substituting Li and Ti with Ca and Sm, respectively. The roles of Ca and Sm on the crystal structure and electrochemical performances have been comprehensively investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron diffraction (ND) and electrochemical analysis. The Rietveld refinement of ND data indicate that Ca and Sm prefer to take 8a site (tetrahedral site) and 16d site (octahedral site), respectively. Li_3.98Ca_0.02Ti_4.98Sm_0.02O₁₂ has the longer Li1-O bond and shorter Ti-O bond length which reduces Li⁺ migration barrier as well as enhances the structure stability. Ca-Sm co-doping also alleviates the electrode polarization and enhances the reversibility of oxidation and reduction. In compared to bare Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ and Li_3.95Ca_0.05Ti_4.95Sm_0.05O₁₂, Li_3.98Ca_0.02Ti_4.98Sm_0.02O₁₂ electrode shows the lower charge transfer resistance, higher Li⁺ diffusion coefficient, better rate capability and cycling performance. The proposed insights on the roles of dopants are also instructive to design high performance electrode materials by lattice doping.     

Preparation of Li4Ti5O12 Yolk–Shell Powders by Spray Pyrolysis and their Electrochemical Properties

We have reported for the first time the preparation of yolk–shell‐structured Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ powders for use as anode materials in lithium‐ion batteries. One Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ yolk–shell‐particle powder is directly formed from each droplet containing lithium, titanium, and carbon components inside the hot wall reactor maintained at 900 °C. The precursor Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ yolk–shell‐particle powders, which are directly prepared by spray pyrolysis, have initial discharge and charge capacities of 155 and 122 mA h g^?1, respectively, at a current density of 175 mA g^?1. Post‐treatment of the yolk–shell‐particle powders at temperatures of 700 and 800 °C improves the initial discharge and charge capacities. The initial discharge capacities of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ powders with a yolk–shell structure and a dense structure post‐treated at 800 °C are 189 and 168 mA h g^?1, respectively. After 100 cycles, the corresponding capacities are 172 and 152 mA h g^?1, respectively (retentions of 91 and 90 %).     

Effect of the ZnNi y Mn2– y O4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 1) spinel composition on electrochemical lithium insertion

The electrochemical insertion of lithium in the spinel-type manganite with the formula ZnNi _y Mn_{2– y} O₄ has been studied. The galvanostatic discharge curves show that the best performance is obtained for y = 0.25, where a tetragonal to cubic structural transformation occurs. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the process of insertion of the lithium into the tetragonal spinel Li _x ZnNi_0.25Mn_1.75O₄ (x = 0.05–1.3) have been studied. The molar thermodynamic quantities, such as enthalpy, entropy and free energy determined by EMF-T measurements, varied with the lithium concentration in the oxide structure, and a major variation was observed around x = 0.8. The chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium in these spinels was also determined. Structural analysis, degree of oxidation and magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out for the lithiated oxides in order to obtain the cationic distribution as a function of x. It has been possible to demonstrate that, upon lithium insertion, Mn⁴⁺ ions on B sites are reduced to Mn³⁺ and then to Mn²⁺. A cooperative Jahn-Teller effect is present in these spinel manganese-nickel oxides. Received: 4 February 1997 / Accepted: 11 April 1997     

Simultaneous Carbon Coating and Lithiation of Oxides by Contact Reaction

Chemical lithiation and carbon coating of cathode materials can lead to strongly improved electrochemical properties, especially if the active materials have low electronic conductivity. This behavior is quite often the case for new high‐capacity materials. A novel synthesis method is presented in which the two processes are performed simultaneously by employing Li₂C₂ as both the carbon and the lithium source. In this contact reaction, the acetylide anion C₂^2? is oxidized to carbon and deposited directly on the surface of the active material, while lithium is reductively inserted into the oxidant. Two different synthesis routes are demonstrated: a tribochemical approach at room temperature and heat treatments between 150 and 600 °C. The applicability of these new carbon‐coating methods are demonstrated on various crystalline and amorphous Li_xV₂O₅ phases. The composites obtained were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, electrochemical data confirm the chemical lithiation and show that lithiated Li_xV₂O₅ with specific phases can be prepared selectively.     

Li2MTi6O14 (M=Sr,Ba): new anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Isostructural Li₂MTi₆O₁₄ (M=Sr, Ba) materials, prepared by a solid state reaction method, have been investigated as insertion electrodes for lithium battery applications. These titanate compounds have a structure that consists of a three-dimensional network of corner- and edge-shared [TiO₆] octahedra, 11-coordinate polyhedra for the alkali-earth ions, and [LiO₄] tetrahedra in tunnels that also contain vacant tetrahedral and octahedral sites. Electrochemical data show that these compounds are capable of reversibly intercalating four lithium atoms in a three-stage process between 1.4 and 0.5 V vs. metallic lithium. The electrodes provide a practical capacity of approximately 140 mAh/g; they are, therefore, possible alternative anode materials to the lithium titanate spinel, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. The lithium intercalation mechanism and crystal structure of Li₂MTi₆O₁₄ (M=Sr, Ba) electrodes are discussed and compared with the electrochemical and structural properties of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. The area-specific impedance (ASI) of Li/Li₂SrTi₆O₁₄ cells was found to be significantly lower than that of Li/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ cells.     

Electrospun Li<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>/Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> composite nanofibers for enhanced high-rate lithium ion batteries

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/Li₂TiO₃ composite nanofibers with the mean diameter of ca. 60 nm have been synthesized via facile electrospinning. When the molar ratio of Li to Ti is 4.8:5, the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/Li₂TiO₃ composite nanofibers exhibit initial discharge capacity of 216.07 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C, rate capability of 151 mAh g^?1 after being cycled at 20 C, and cycling stability of 122.93 mAh g^?1 after 1000 cycles at 20 C. Compared with pure Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanofibers and Li₂TiO₃ nanofibers, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/Li₂TiO₃ composite nanofibers show better performance when used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The enhanced electrochemical performances are explained by the incorporation of appropriate Li₂TiO₃ which could strengthen the structure stability of the hosted materials and has fast Li⁺-conductor characteristics, and the nanostructure of nanofibers which could offer high specific area between the active materials and electrolyte and shorten diffusion paths for ionic transport and electronic conduction. Our new findings provide an effective synthetic way to produce high-performance Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ anodes for lithium rechargeable batteries.     

Lithium insertion into YBa2Cu3O7

Atomistic computer simulation techniques are used to investigate the effects of lithium insertion into YBa₂Cu₃O₇. Attention is focused on various possible lattice sites occupied by the inserted lithium ions and pathways for their migration. The square-planar position in the Cu(2) layer is calculated to be the most energetically favorable. This is supported by the structural modeling of the ordered lithiated phase Li_0.33YBa₂Cu₃O₇. The calculated activation energies derived from migration profiles are in accord with experimental values and suggest fairly mobile lithium ions.     

Structural Aspects of Lithium Transfer in Solid Electrolytes Li2x Zn2-3xTi1+xO4 (0.33≤ x≤ 0.67)

Solid solutions Li_{2x Zn2-3x}Ti_1+xO₄, where x =1/3, 1/2, 3/5, 2/3, were studied by powder X-ray diffractometry and differential thermal analysis. Conductivity measurements have been performed in the gas phase at different temperatures and oxygen pressures. Distribution of cations over the sites of the spinel structure has been determined. Conductivity increases substantially with lithium concentration. The high lithium conductivity of Li₃Zn_0.5Ti₄O₁₀ (x=3/5) and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (x=2/3) is the result of two sequential phase transitions associated with different lithium distributions in high-temperature phases with defective NaCl type structures. Possible routes of lithium ion transport are discussed and rationalized based on the conductivity and crystal data.     

Li ion diffusion in Li4Ti5O12 thin film electrode prepared by PVP sol-gel method

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin films for rechargeable lithium batteries were prepared by a sol-gel method with poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Interfacial properties of lithium insertion into Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT). Redox peaks in CV were very sharp even at a fast scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹, indicating that Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film had a fast electrochemical response, and that an apparent chemical diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ion was estimated to be 6.8×10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ from a dependence of peak current on sweep rates. From EIS, it can be seen that Li⁺ ions become more mobile at 1.55 V vs. Li/Li⁺, corresponding to a two-phase region, and the chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion ranged from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ at various potentials. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion in Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were also estimated from PITT. They were in a range of 10⁻¹¹-10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹.