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Synthesis of lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12) with ultrathin carbon layer using supercritical fluids for anode materials in lithium batteries

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Abstract

Lithium titanium oxide (LTO: Li4Ti5O12) particles were produced via a continuous supercritical fluid process for use as anodes in lithium ion batteries. The synthesized LTO particles in supercritical water (scH2O) or in supercritical methanol (scMeOH) generate nanoparticles of 10–30 nm sizes, and the modified LTO particles using oleylamine in scMeOH affects the inhibition of particle growth. The modified LTO particle was coated by the usage of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and polyethylene glycol (PEG-400). The conformal coverage of the carbon layer on LTO particles with a thickness of 1.2 nm, and a uniform distribution of carbon on the entire surface of LTO particles are confirmed. The modified and carbon-coated LTO with a carbon content of 5.3 wt% exhibits a high discharge capacity of 175 mAh/g (which approaches the theoretical value of LTO) at 0.1 C and 83 mAh/g at 50 C. The carbon-coated LTO prepared using supercritical fluids delivered 160, 153, 123 mAh/g at 1 C and 60 °C, room temperature, and −25 °C, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (20122020100280). Additionally, this research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (No. 2014R1A5A1009799).

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Correspondence to Seung-Ah Hong.

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Hong, SA., Lee, S.B., Joo, OS. et al. Synthesis of lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12) with ultrathin carbon layer using supercritical fluids for anode materials in lithium batteries. J Mater Sci 51, 6220–6234 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-9920-9

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