Mesoporous carbon/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoflakes composite anode material lithiated to 0.01 V

A composite anode material is fabricated from mesoporous carbon and synthesized Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoflakes for application in lithium ion batteries. Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ is used as a capacity contributing conductive additive because of the change in its electronic structure from insulating to metallic as it undergoes lithiation. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used to analyze the electrochemical properties of the mesporous carbon/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoflakes composite material, and synergistic results have been confirmed. The composite achieves high specific capacity and excellent cyclability with a capacity stabilizing at 300 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at a current density of 175 mA g⁻¹ and 200 mA h g⁻¹ after 500 more cycles at a high current density of 500 mA g⁻¹. This research shows the applicability of using LTO as a conducting agent with significant capacity contribution as a composite material with anode materials discharged to 0.01 V for high energy storage with fast charge–discharge capability.