Search Results (48)

Despite exhibiting exceptional structural stability, spinel lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, LTO) suffers from inherent limitations in both electronic conductivity and ionic diffusion kinetics, limiting its high-rate application. In this study, pringle-shaped Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/carbon (LTO/C) composite was synthesized using low-cost sucrose as the organic carbon source, using a facile hydrothermal-calcination method. Each pringle-shaped nanosheet was composed of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoparticles that are 15 nm in size, which can shorten lithium-ion diffusion distances as well as better the contact between electrolyte and active materials. Meanwhile, the uniform carbon cladding improves the material’s electronic conductivity. Owing to the synergistic effects between the mesoporous LTO nanosheets and carbon coating, LTO/C-6.31 wt% presented remarkable rate capability and cycling stability, delivering 145.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 20 C over 1000 cycles with 93.93% capacity retention. This work demonstrates an effective synthesis route to developing high-rate capability and long-cycle-life anode materials for LIBs. Full article

With the growing global demand for sustainable resources, recycling spent lithium-ion batteries has become a strategic priority. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods suffer from high energy consumption, severe pollution, and structural destruction, making them unsuitable for regenerating high-nickel cathodes. In this work, spent polycrystalline high-nickel LiNi_0.9Mn_0.1O₂ cathodes were selected, and an upcycling strategy integrating acid etching, hydrothermal relithiation, short-time annealing, and simultaneous Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) coating was developed. This process directly transformed degraded polycrystalline cathodes into single-crystal cathode materials with excellent structural stability and electrochemical performance. During regeneration, lithium compensation and lattice recrystallization effectively repaired lithium loss, reduced Li/Ni cation mixing, reactivated the degraded structure, and reconstructed a highly ordered layered single-crystal framework. The LTO coating further stabilized the cathode/electrolyte interface, suppressed side reactions, alleviated volume strain, and promoted Li⁺ transport kinetics. Electrochemical measurements showed that the regenerated single-crystal cathode exhibited superior structural integrity, strong resistance to crack propagation, low polarization, excellent rate capability, and long-term cycling stability. A capacity retention of 84.3% was achieved after 300 cycles at 1C, outperforming commercial polycrystalline cathodes. This strategy provides an efficient and promising route for the direct regeneration of spent high-nickel ternary cathodes. Full article

The development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) capable of extreme fast charging (XFC) while preserving safety, durability, and practical energy density remains a central challenge for next-generation electric transportation and grid-scale storage. Conventional graphite anodes are fundamentally limited at high current densities by sluggish intercalation kinetics, which cause lithium plating, motivating the exploration of alternative insertion materials. This review provides a comprehensive and internally consistent assessment of titanium-based oxide anodes, encompassing TiO₂ polymorphs, lithium titanate (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂), and Wadsley–Roth titanium niobium oxides, through the combined lenses of crystal topology, diffusion pathways, redox chemistry, interfacial behavior, and resource scalability. By systematically comparing structural frameworks and electrochemical mechanisms across these material classes, we demonstrate that fast-charging performance is governed not by nano-structuring alone, but by the intrinsic coupling between operating potential, framework rigidity, and multi-electron redox activity. While Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ establishes the benchmark for safety and cyclability, and TiO₂ polymorphs provide structural versatility, titanium niobium oxides uniquely reconcile high theoretical capacity with minimal lithiation strain and open diffusion channels, positioning them as highly promising candidates for sub-10 min charging without catastrophic degradation. This review highlights the persistent obstacles these materials suffer, such as limited round-trip energy efficiency (RTE), interfacial gas evolution, poor dopant stability, and unsustainable extraction, while simultaneously exploring targeted design strategies to overcome them. Finally, this review provides a materials design and comparison framework for the development of safe, high-power, and commercially viable ultrafast-charging LIBs. Full article

This study presents the synthesis of Cu-doped Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) and Cu-doped Li₄Ti₅O₁₂@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) anode materials via a simple wet chemical approach combined with freeze-drying. The LTO-0.1Cu@rGO anode delivers an ideal rate capacity of 376, 350, 327, 297 and 259 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 A g⁻¹, respectively, and exhibits stable, long-life cyclic performance of 223.0 mAh g⁻¹ at 5.0 A g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles with 94.8% retention. This superior electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique structure of Cu-doped LTO particles that are uniformly embedded within a conductive, interconnected rGO network. Therefore, these results indicate that combined doping and coating strategies have great potential for enhancing the electrochemical properties of LTO anodes for LIBs. Full article

Fiber-based and fabric batteries signify a groundbreaking development in energy storage, allowing for the straightforward incorporation of power sources into wearable fabrics, intelligent apparel, and adaptable electronics. In this study, we introduce a novel strategy for one-step fabrication of a flexible lithium titanate oxide (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, LTO) anode directly on a copper current collector via electrospinning, eliminating the need for high-temperature post-processing. Based on our previous work with electrospun nanofiber cathodes and carbon-based current collector, we prepared the LTO electrode using polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a binder and carbon additives to enhance mechanical integrity and conductivity. LTO fiber mats detached from the current collector were found to endure multiple instances of bending, twisting, and folding without any structural damage. LTO/Li cells incorporating electrospun fiber LTO electrodes with 72 wt% active material loading deliver a high capacity of 170 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 C. In addition, they demonstrate excellent cycling stability with a capacity loss of only 0.01% per cycle over 200 cycles and maintain a capacity of 160 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C. The scalability of the heat-treatment-free method for fabricating flexible LTO anodes, together with the improved mechanical durability and electrochemical performance, offers a promising route toward the development of next-generation flexible and wearable energy storage devices. Full article

Nanostructured binary metal oxides have demonstrated the potential for increased electrochemical performance due to their structural stability, electronic conductivity, and various oxidation states. The Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal procedure at different reaction periods (12, 18, and 24 h), and its microstructural and supercapacitive characteristics were studied. The XRD and XPS studies confirm the formation of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ in pure phase when synthesized at 24 h (LTO@24) of reaction time. FESEM and HRTEM images reveal nanoflake surface morphology. Both LTO@24 and V-LTO@24 nanoflakes exhibited impressive electrochemical performance, with specific capacitance values of 357 and 442 F g^−1, respectively, at 1 A g⁻¹. The V-LTO@24 showed remarkable supercapacitor properties, demonstrating excellent rate capability and cycleability that surpass those of pure LTO@24. Full article

Multilayer ceramic lithium batteries (MLCBs) are regarded as a new type of oxide-based all-solid-state microbattery for integrated circuits and various wearable devices. The chemical compatibility between the solid electrolyte and electrode active materials during the high-temperature co-sintering process is crucial for determining the structural stability and cycling performance of MLCBs. This study focuses on the typical MLCB composite electrodes composed of the NASICON-type Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ (LATP) solid electrolyte and the spinel-type Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) anode material. The thermal behavior, phase structure, morphological evolution, and elemental chemical states of these composite electrodes were systematically investigated over a co-sintering temperature range of 400–900 °C. The results indicate that the reactivity between LATP and LTO during co-sintering is primarily driven by the diffusion of Li from the LTO anode, leading to the formation of TiO₂, Li₃PO₄, and LiTiOPO₄. Furthermore, the co-sintered LATP-LTO multilayer composites reveal that the generation of Li₃PO₄ at the LATP/LTO interface facilitates their co-sintering integration at 800–900 °C, which is essential for the successful fabrication of MLCBs. These findings provide direct evidence and valuable references for the structural and performance optimization of MLCBs in the future. Full article

The recycling of lithium-ion batteries is increasingly important for both resource recovery and environmental protection. However, the complex composition of cathode and anode materials in these batteries makes the efficient separation of metal mixtures challenging. Hydrometallurgical methods, particularly liquid extraction, provide an effective means of separating metal ions, though they require periodic updates to their extraction systems. This study introduces a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent composed of trioctylphosphine oxide, di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid, and menthol, which is effective for separating Ti(IV), Co(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), and Li⁺ ions from hydrochloric acid leachates of NMC (LiNi_xMn_yCo_1−x−yO₂) batteries with LTO (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) anodes. By optimising the molar composition of the trioctylphosphine oxide/di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid/menthol mixture to a 4:1:5 ratio, high extraction efficiency was achieved. The solvent demonstrated stability over 10 cycles, and conditions for its regeneration were successfully established. At room temperature, the DES exhibited a density of 0.89 g/mL and a viscosity of 56 mPa·s, which are suitable for laboratory-scale extraction processes. Experimental results from a laboratory setup with mixer-settlers confirmed the efficiency of separating Ti(IV) and Co(II) ions in the context of their extraction kinetics. Full article

The present article introduces a strategy for controlling oxidation and reduction reactions within polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) networks as a means of enhancing storage capacity through the complexation of dissociated lithium cations with multifunctional groups of the polymer network. Specifically, co-polymer networks based on polysulfide (PS) and polyoxide (PO) precursors, photo-cured in the presence of succinonitrile (SCN) and lithium bis(trifluoro methane sulfonyl imide) (LiTFSI) salt, exhibited ionic conductivity on the order of mid 10⁻⁴ S/cm at ambient temperature in the 30/35/35 (weight %) composition. Lithium titanate (LTO, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) electrode was chosen as an anode (i.e., a potential source of Li ions) against lithium iron phosphate (LFP, LiFePO₄) cathode in conjunction with polysulfide-co-polyoxide dual polyelectrolyte networks to control viscosity for 3D printability on conformal surfaces of drone and aeronautic vehicles. It was found that the PS-co-PO dual network-based polymer electrolyte containing SCN plasticizer and LiTFSI salt exhibited extra storage capacity (i.e., specific capacity of 44 mAh/g) with the overall specific capacity of 170 mAh/g (i.e., for the combined LTO electrode and PEM) initially that stabilized at 153 mAh/g after 50th cycles with a reasonable capacity retention of over 90% and Coulombic efficiency of over 99%. Of particular interest is the observation of the improved electrochemical performance of the polysulfide-co-polyoxide electrolyte dual-network relative to that of the polyoxide electrolyte single-network. Full article

This study reports five types of metal-doped (Co, Cu, Sn, V, and Zr) NASICON-type Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ (LATP)/polymer composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) enabling Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) anodes to have high rate capability and excellent cycling performance. The high Li⁺-conductivity LATP samples are successfully synthesized through a modified sol–gel method followed by thermal calcination. We find that the cation dopants clearly influence the substitution of Al for Ti, with the type of dopant serving as a crucial factor in determining the ionic conductivity and interfacial resistance of the solid electrolyte. The CSE containing poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and Sn-LATP shows an ionic conductivity of 1.88 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at ambient temperature. The optimum conductivity can be attributed to alterations in the lattice parameters and Li⁺ transport pathways owing to Sn doping. The solid-state cell equipped with the LTO-supported CSE containing Sn-LATP fillers demonstrates both excellent high rate capability at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 86% compared to the value measured at 0.2 C) and superior cycling stability, maintaining high Coulombic efficiency (>99.0%) over 510 cycles. These findings indicate that the proposed CSE is highly promising for use in solid-state lithium batteries with desirable charge–discharge properties and high durability. Full article

The most popular anode material in commercial Li-ion batteries is still graphite. However, its low intercalation potential is close to that of lithium, which results in the dendritic growth of lithium at its surface, and the formation of a passivation film that limits the rate capability and may result in safety hazards. High-performance anodes are thus needed. In this context, lithium titanite oxide (LTO) has attracted attention as this anode material has important advantages. Due to its higher lithium intercalation potential (1.55 V vs. Li⁺/Li), the dendritic deposition of lithium is avoided, and the safety is increased. In addition, LTO is a zero-strain material, as the volume change upon lithiation-delithiation is negligible, which increases the cycle life of the battery. Finally, the diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ in LTO (2 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹) is larger than in graphite, which, added to the fact that the dendritic effect is avoided, increases importantly the rate capability. The LTO anode has two drawbacks. The energy density of the cells equipped with LTO anode is lower compared with the same cells with graphite anode, because the capacity of LTO is limited to 175 mAh g⁻¹, and because of the higher redox potential. The main drawback, however, is the low electrical conductivity (10⁻¹³ S cm⁻¹) and ionic conductivity (10⁻¹³–10⁻⁹ cm² s⁻¹). Different strategies have been used to address this drawback: nano-structuration of LTO to reduce the path of Li⁺ ions and electrons inside LTO, ion doping, and incorporation of conductive nanomaterials. The synthesis of LTO with the appropriate structure and the optimized doping and the synthesis of composites incorporating conductive materials is thus the key to achieving high-rate capability. That is why a variety of synthesis recipes have been published on the LTO-based anodes. The progress in the synthesis of LTO-based anodes in recent years is such that LTO is now considered a substitute for graphite in lithium-ion batteries for many applications, including electric cars and energy storage to solve intermittence problems of wind mills and photovoltaic plants. In this review, we examine the different techniques performed to fabricate LTO nanostructures. Details of the synthesis recipes and their relation to electrochemical performance are reported, allowing the extraction of the most powerful synthesis processes in relation to the recent experimental results. Full article

Lithium-ion solid-state batteries with spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) electrodes have significant advantages, such as stability, long life, and good multiplication performance. In this work, the LTO electrode was obtained by the atmospheric plasma spraying method, and a composite solid electrolyte was prepared by in situ ultraviolet (UV) curing on the LTO electrode. The composite solid electrolyte was designed using a soft–hard combination strategy, and the electrolyte was prepared into a composite of a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) flexible structure and high-conductivity Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ (LATP) hard particles. The composite electrolyte exhibited a good ionic conductivity up to 0.35 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C and an electrochemical window above 4.0 V. In situ and ex situ electrolytes were assembled into LTO//electrolyte//Li solid-state batteries to investigate their impact on the electrochemical performance of the batteries. As a result, the assembled Li₄Ti₅O₁₂//in situ electrolytes//Li batteries exhibited excellent rate of performance, and their capacity retention rate was 90% at 0.2 mA/cm² after 300 cycles. This work provides a new method for the fabrication of novel advanced solid-state electrolytes and electrodes for applications in solid-state batteries. Full article

Two strategies to increase battery energy density at the cell level are to increase electrode thickness and to reduce the amount of inactive electrode constituents. All active material (AAM) electrodes provide a route to achieve both of those aims toward high areal capacity electrodes. AAM electrodes are often fabricated using hydraulic compression processes followed by thermal treatment; however, additive manufacturing routes could provide opportunities for more time-efficient and geometry-flexible electrode fabrication. One possible route for additive manufacturing of AAM electrodes would be to employ plasma spray as a direct additive manufacturing technology, and AAM electrode fabrication using plasma spray will be the focus of the work herein. TiO₂ and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) powders were deposited onto stainless steel substrates via plasma spray processing to produce AAM battery electrodes, and evaluated with regards to material and electrochemical properties. The TiO₂ electrodes delivered low electrochemical capacity, <12 mAh g⁻¹, which was attributed to limitations of the initial feed powder. LTO plasma sprayed AAM electrodes had much higher capacity and were comparable in total capacity at a low rate of discharge to composite electrodes fabricated using the same raw powder feed material. LTO material and electrochemical properties were sensitive to the plasma spray conditions, suggesting that tuning the material microstructure and electrochemical properties is possible by controlling the plasma spray deposition parameters. Full article

A solid-solution cathode of LiCoPO₄-LiNiPO₄ was investigated as a potential candidate for use with the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) anode in Li-ion batteries. A pre-synthesized nickel–cobalt hydroxide precursor is mixed with lithium and phosphate sources by wet ball milling, which results in the final product, LiNi_yCo_1−yPO₄ (LNCP) by subsequent heat treatment. Crystal structure and morphology of the product were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its XRD patterns show that LNCP is primarily a single-phase compound and has olivine-type XRD patterns similar to its parent compounds, LiCoPO₄ and LiNiPO₄. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis, however, indicates that Ni doping in LiCoPO₄ is unfavorable because Ni²⁺ is not actively involved in the electrochemical reaction. Consequently, it reduces the charge storage capability of the LNCP cathode. Additionally, ex situ XRD analysis of cycled electrodes confirms the formation of the electrochemically inactive rock salt-type NiO phase. The discharge capacity of the LNCP cathode is entirely associated with the Co³⁺/Co²⁺ redox couple. The electrochemical evaluation demonstrated that the LNCP cathode paired with the LTO anode produced a 3.12 V battery with an energy density of 184 Wh kg⁻¹ based on the cathode mass. Full article

The combination of spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) with carbon nanostructures, such as graphene (G) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), provides all of the required properties for modern chemical power sources such as Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors (SCs). G/LTO and CNT/LTO composites demonstrate a superior reversible capacity, cycling stability, and good rate performances. In this paper, an ab initio attempt to estimate the electronic and capacitive properties of such composites was made for the first time. It was found that the interaction between LTO particles and CNTs was higher than that with graphene due to the larger amount of transfer charge. Increasing the graphene concentration raised the Fermi level and enhanced the conductive properties of G/LTO composites. For CNT/LTO samples, the radius of CNT did not affect the Fermi level. For both G/LTO and CNT/LTO composites, an increase in the carbon ratio resulted in a similar reduction in quantum capacitance (QC). It was observed that during the charge cycle in the real experiment, the non-Faradaic process prevailed during the charge cycle, while the Faradaic process prevailed during the discharge cycle. The obtained results confirm and explain the experimental data and improve the understanding of the processes occurring in G/LTO and CNT/LTO composites for their usages in LIBs and SCs. Full article