Research on Li[sub 4]Ti[sub 5]O[sub 12]∕Cu[sub x]O Composite Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract
The powders of Li4Ti5O12∕CuxOLi4Ti5O12∕CuxO composite were prepared by thermal decomposition of a mixture of Cu(NO3)2Cu(NO3)2 and the precursor Li4Ti5O12Li4Ti5O12 under mixing H2H2 and N2N2 atmosphere and under air atmosphere, respectively. Electrochemical performance with particular attention to their high-rate charge-discharge cycling properties was examined. Experimental results showed that the Li4Ti5O12∕CuxOLi4Ti5O12∕CuxO composite displayed much better high-rate discharge capacity and cycling stability than the precursor Li4Ti5O12Li4Ti5O12 . The discharge capacity of the composite at 10C10C rate reached 137.6mAh∕g137.6mAh∕g after 100cycles100cycles with a capacity loss of only 5.56%. It was also demonstrated that reduced atmosphere was important to the high-rate performance of the composite.