Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Lithium Titanate

Abstract

The synthesis of lithium titanate which includes mechanical activation of the precursor on a Bridgman anvil high-pressure apparatus is proposed. The electrodes composed of the prepared Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ surpass their analogs in terms of the charge density, especially at high discharge currents, which we attribute to considerably finer particles of the prepared active material and the use of a solid polymer electrolyte as an electrically conducting binder which ensures uniform accessibility of the surface of anode material particles. This results in the most complete involvement of the lithium titanate during charge–discharge cycles and, consequently, higher specific discharge capacity. Solid state electrodes offer the advantage of stability, as compared to other electrodes, due to the lack of a liquid electrolyte in their composition; liquid electrolytes are known to cause corrosion, which leads to substantial losses of the electrode capacity during charge–discharge cycles.