Synthesis of Heterogeneous Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) Nanostructured Anodes with Long-Term Cycle Stability

The 0D-1D Lithium titanate (Li(4)Ti(5)O(12)) heterogeneous nanostructures were synthesized through the solvothermal reaction using lithium hydroxide monohydrate (Li(OH)·H(2)O) and protonated trititanate (H(2)Ti(3)O(7)) nanowires as the templates in an ethanol/water mixed solvent with subsequent heat treatment. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) were used to reveal that the Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) powders had 0D-1D heterogeneous nanostructures with nanoparticles (0D) on the surface of wires (1D). The composition of the mixed solvents and the volume ratio of ethanol modulated the primary particle size of the Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) nanoparticles. The Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) heterogeneous nanostructures exhibited good capacity retention of 125 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 1C and a superior high-rate performance of 114 mAh/g at 20C.