Enhanced Performance of "flower-like" Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ Motifs as Anode Materials for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

"Flower-like" motifs of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were synthesized by using a facile and large-scale hydrothermal process involving unique Ti foil precursors followed by a short, relatively low-temperature calcination in air. Moreover, a detailed time-dependent growth mechanism and a reasonable reaction scheme were proposed to clearly illustrate and highlight the structural evolution and subsequent formation of this material. Specifically, the resulting "flower-like" Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ microspheres consisting of thin nanosheets provide for an enhanced surface area and a reduced lithium-ion diffusion distance. The high surface areas of the exposed roughened, thin petal-like component nanosheets are beneficial for the interaction of the electrolyte with Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, which thereby ultimately provides for improved high-rate performance and favorable charge/discharge dynamics. Electrochemical studies of the as-prepared nanostructured Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ clearly revealed their promising potential as an enhanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries, as they present both excellent rate capabilities (delivering 148, 141, 137, 123, and 60 mAhg^-1 under discharge rates of 0.2, 10, 20, 50, and 100 C, at cycles of 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70, respectively) and stable cycling performance (exhibiting a capacity retention of ≈97% from cycles 10-100, under a discharge rate of 0.2 C, and an impressive capacity retention of ≈87% by using a more rigorous discharge rate of 20 C from cycles 101-300).