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Three‐Tier Hierarchical Clusters of Carbon‐Coated Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 Single Crystals as High‐Power and High‐Energy Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Author(s) -
Bai Hongwei,
Zan Xiaoli,
Liu Zhaoyang,
Sun Darren Delai
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201500408
Subject(s) - anode , materials science , electrolyte , lithium (medication) , chemical engineering , cathode , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , coating , carbon fibers , lithium titanate , diffusion , diffusion barrier , lithium ion battery , battery (electricity) , composite material , layer (electronics) , electrode , composite number , chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , endocrinology , thermodynamics
A novel three‐tier hierarchical cluster lithium‐ion battery (LIB) anode is reported here, consisting of 1) carbon‐coated Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 crystals as the first nano‐tier (ca. 10 nm) for high‐rate capability; 2) submicron spheres consisting of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 crystals as the second submicron tier (100–300 nm), facilitating electrolyte infiltration and Li + diffusion; and 3) clusters comprising Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 spheres as the third micron‐sized tier (1–2 μm) to increase the packing density of active materials for high‐power LIBs. The submicron tier acts as a transition zone between the nano‐tier and micro‐tier to further benefit Li + diffusion, electrolyte infiltration, and electron transport. The carbon coating on Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 forms a uniform and continuous conductive network for fast electron transport and Li + diffusion to address the low electronic conductivity obstacle of the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 anode. The three‐tier hierarchical clusters maximize the close contact between the electrolytes and the active materials for excellent electrochemical performance.